5G mast attacks revealed
ARSONISTS STRUCK AS CONSPIRACY THEORIES GAINED GROUND
AS conspiracy theories about 5G phone technology swept the internet, a wave of arson attacks on phone masts followed.
The frightening extent of those attacks in West Yorkshire can now be revealed following a Freedom of Information Act request to West Yorkshire Police.
There were a total of 29 incidents of arson or criminal damage on 5G masts between February 2019 and July this year.
There were 16 incidents in Bradford, six in Huddersfield, two in Leeds, and one incident each in Halifax, Pontefract, Featherstone, Dewsbury and Cleckheaton.
The motive or motives for the attacks are unknown as the culprits have yet to be caught, but concerns have previously been expressed that people were attacking telecoms infrastructure because of a bizarre theory linking 5G technology to the spread of coronavirus.
Among the incidents reported were:
Youths entered a factory in the HD4 area and onto a roof where they kicked a mobile phone mast, causing damage. Police have been unable to identify a suspect. Investigation completed.
Criminal damage caused to telecoms box on a pavement in the HD5 area. Police were unable to identify a suspect. Investigation completed.
Accelerant used to start a fire on mobile phone mast power box in the HD1 area. The fire travelled up the mast and destroyed the cables and signal dish at the top. A police investigation is ongoing.
Suspects entered a compound protected by a 7ft spiked metal fence in the HD4 area. Telecoms equipment damaged, causing mobile and landlines to go down. Police are continuing to investigate.
Telecoms cabinet in the HD5 area was damaged, causing the mast to lose all power, stopping thousands of customers from using 4G and 5G data. Police investigated completed but no suspect was identified.
Lock damaged at telecoms site and graffiti sprayed. No suspect was
identified. Investigation completed.
Arson attack on telephone mast in the HX1 area. No suspect was identified. Investigation completed.