Arsonists torch more telecom masts take total fires to nine
The number of arson attacks on mobile phone masts rose to nine over the holiday weekend, the telecom providers’ association Monet says in Tuesday’s NRC.
The fires may lead to some temporary disruption of services, director Rob Bongenaar told the paper. ‘This is totally irresponsible,’ he said. ‘They are endangering vital infrastructure at a time when we need it most.’
The fires are thought to have been started by conspiracy theorists who think there is a link between coronavirus and the introduction of 5G services in the Netherlands. One Dutch Facebook group focused on the theory now has 32,000 members, the NRC said.
The NCTV said on Friday that protests about telecom masts are not new but that this sort of ‘extremist’ action is a ‘worrying development’. ‘We are in close contact with the police and providers and are monitoring the situation,’ the NCTV said.
The Netherlands does not yet have a 5G network although some tests are taking place.
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