Around 90 mast attacks recorded during coronavirus lockdown

The number of attacks on mobile phone masts has climbed to around 90 since the coronavirus lockdown began, the UK’s network trade body has revealed.

MobileUK said it has currently recorded 87 arson incidents against network towers across the country, but warned there might be a delay on information from over the bank holiday weekend.

It comes as Derbyshire Police appealed for witnesses after firefighters were called to a mast blaze off Scarborough Drive in the Chaddesden area of Derby at 2am on Sunday, following a string of cases in recent months.

“We believe the fire was started deliberately and we are investigating,” the force said.

Mast fire — A telecoms mast on Becontree Avenue in Dagenham after a fire on 14 April which is still being investigated by police (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Attacks against mobile masts have surged since March amid conspiracy theories linking 5G technology to the spread of Covid-19. Experts and scientists have called the claims unproven, “baseless” and “utter rubbish”.

One attack reported in April was on a mast serving the Nightingale hospital in Birmingham.

“Theories being spread about 5G are baseless and are not grounded in credible scientific theory,” Mobile UK has repeatedly argued.

“Mobile operators are dedicated to keeping the UK connected, and careless talk could cause untold damage.

“Continuing attacks on mobile infrastructure risks lives and at this challenging time the UK’s critical sectors must be able to focus all their efforts fighting this pandemic.”

Comments 1

jessica7301 says:

6 years ago

Theories being spread about 5G are baseless and are not grounded in credible scientific theory,”

Attacks against mobile masts have surged since March amid conspiracy theories linking 5G technology to the spread of Covid-19. Experts and scientists have called the claims unproven, “baseless” and “utter rubbish”.

OK here’s the thing both of the above statements are wrong, for every scientist saying its a conspiracy and not founded on scientific study, there are other accredited scientists saying the opposite. The problem here is that there has been no credible scientific study. There has been studies which show cell damage in trees facing mobile masts and there has never been a study on 5G effects on anything.

I make no claim that 5G is dangerous but that’s because we don’t know either way, if it isn’t dangerous then show me the scientific controlled research that proves it.

The one thing I don’t know is why do we need 5G? I can watch a movie, download files check my email surf the net and anything else i want NOW with 4g so why 5G ? Ok its faster but is it really a life saving tech.