Openreach staff spat at and abused over 5G ‘conspiracy’

OPENREACH staff have been abused more times in one month than in an average year, the company has revealed as the spread of online 5G conspiracies has seen reports of cars being driven directly at workers.

The company, which maintains large swathes of the UK’s broadband infrastructure, said employees had suffered 46 incidents of abuse in April alone – including being spat in the face and having water thrown over them – compared to just 42 incidents over the preceding year.

The attacks come as conspiracy theories have proliferated on social media claiming that 5G mobile masts, the

Employees suffered 46 incidents of abuse in April alone, including being spat in the face

next generation of mobile signal, are spreading the coronavirus.

Since the lockdown began in mid-March, more than 60 mobile phone masts have been damaged, including 30 arson and petrol bomb attacks. The vast majority were not carrying 5G.

However, the disinformation appears to be stoking attacks and abuse on telecoms staff working to keep the broadband network running during the lockdown.

In evidence submitted to MPs investigating 5G misinformation, BT said it had received reports of 70 separate incidents involving EE staff and subcontractors alone, including “threats to kill and vehicles driven directly at staff ”. Reports to Openreach, seen by The

Sunday Telegraph, show that last month one technician was abused three separate times.

Incidents cited included staff having their vans punched and being told they would be “beaten up” if they tried to install 5G in the area.