A mobile phone mast delivering 5G signal to the newly-created NHS Nightingale field hospital in London has been attacked by arsonists.
Vodafone UK Chief Executive Nick Jeffrey revealed that the 5G mast which delivers vital communications channels to the hospital had been attacked over the weekend.
“It’s heart-rending enough that families cannot be there at the bedside of loved ones who are critically ill,” he explained via LinkedIn. “It’s even more upsetting that even the small solace of a phone or video call may now be denied them because of the selfish actions of a few deluded conspiracy theorists.”
“Burning down masts means damaging important national infrastructure. In practice, this means families not being able to say a final goodbye to their loved ones; hard-working doctors, nurses, and police officers not being able to phone their kids, partners or parents for a comforting chat.”
Over 40 mobile phone masts have been attacked across the UK in recent weeks. But while 5G is being blamed by conspiracy theorists for the spread of Coronavirus, many of these masts have yet to have 5G technology installed.
False theories about 5G being linked to the spread of Coronavirus have proliferated online and via shared WhatsApp messages. And the situation has worsened with a number of high-profile social media figures sharing such theories to their followers.
ITV presenter Eamonn Holmes is currently under investigation by communications watchdog Ofcomm due to his recent comments on the theories.
