简体中文
Attacks on mobile masts surged over the Easter weekend, with a further 20 suspected arson cases being reported.
The attacks come as a deeply flawed and scientifically ignorant conspiracy theory is spreading linking the deployment of 5G antennas to the
COVID-19
outbreak.
According to mobile networks, incidents were reported in England, Wales and Scotland over the bank holiday - and follow others the previous weekend.
How do you make a misinformation vaccine?
Additional incidents have been reported on Tuesday.
According to West Yorkshire Police, a phone mast in Huddersfield was found ablaze on Tuesday morning - destroying critical infrastructure used by the emergency services.
Six fire engines were needed to tackle the blaze which was described as a "significant fire that posed risk to occupants of 37 flats in the four-storey building".
Three men were also arrested on suspicion of arson in Dagenham, Essex, on Tuesday morning after a phone mast was set on fire there - causing nearby residences to be evacuated as a precaution.
Coronavirus lockdown UK: Here's what you can (and can't) do
Image:Mobile masts are being erected as critical infrastructure during the lockdown
A spokesperson for MobileUK, the mobile network operators' trade group, told Sky News: "Theories being spread about 5G are baseless and are not grounded in credible scientific theory.
"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."
Image:An attack on a mast in Sparkhill, Birmingham, took place last week
It comes as TV watchdog Ofcom said it was
assessing comments made by This Morning presenter Eamonn Holmes
about 5G and the coronavirus.
Holmes was criticised for causing "untold damage" after he said it was "very easy" to dismiss the conspiracy theory when doing so "suits the state narrative".
Gove: 5G conspiracy theory 'dangerous nonsense'
After last weekend's attacks, NHS England's medical director said he was "outraged and disgusted" at conspiracy theorists spreading the claims.
Professor Stephen Powis, speaking alongside Cabinet Minister Michael Gove during a government coronavirus briefing,
dismissed the claims
as "rubbish".
"The 5G story is complete and utter rubbish, it's nonsense, it's the worst kind of fake news," said Prof Powis.
"The reality is the mobile phone networks are absolutely critical to all of us, especially when we're at home and unable to see families and friends," he added.
"I am absolutely outraged and disgusted that people would be taking action against the infrastructure we need to get through this crisis."
On Tuesday, another 778 patients with
coronavirus
were reported to have died in hospitals across the UK, taking **the nationwide total
** to 12,107.
