A series of ongoing attacks targeting 5G mobile phone masts in Belfast is disrupting hospitals’ ability to communicate with patients, according to police, reports Breaking News.
In the most recent case, detectives are asking the public for any witnesses or information after a mast in Poleglass was set on fire on Thursday.
Similar arson incidents have been recorded in recent months, with most taking place in west Belfast. However, one such attack earlier this week occurred in the south of the city, reports Breaking News.
A PSNI statement said: “We received a report at around 8.40pm on Thursday August 14 of a 5G mast fire in the Glen Road area.
“Officers attended the scene, along with colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, who safely extinguished the fire. This is the latest in a series of attacks on 5G masts in the area, which we know are of great concern and cause significant disruption to the local community. These attacks are having a damaging impact on individuals, businesses and vital services. Hospitals that are affected are experiencing communication difficulties in contacting patients and managing critical on-call arrangements, and members of the public – particularly those who are vulnerable – are being left in a position where they are unable to make emergency calls or contact family,” reports Breaking News.
It added: “Detectives are actively pursuing a number of lines of inquiry and we remain committed to identifying those responsible and bringing them to justice. We remain of the belief that there are individuals with knowledge that could assist us in identifying those responsible for these attacks and, once again, are appealing to the public to help us by coming forward with any information they may have. Any information, no matter how inconsequential it may seem, is important and could be crucial in helping us identify those responsible and stopping these attacks,” reports Breaking News.
Sinn Féin councillor Ronan McLaughlin said these attacks on 5G infrastructure are “having a detrimental impact on our communities.”
He added: “That these arsonists feel comfortable carrying out these acts in broad daylight on a main road is deeply concerning, and is an indictment of the lack of action taken to date. With poor connectivity now common in west Belfast, there is a real risk lives could be lost because of weak phone signal. It’s time for those involved to face justice and be taken off our streets,” reports Breaking News.
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