UK Arson Attacks on 5G Towers Fueled by Coronavirus Conspiracy Theories
At least a dozen 5G cell towers in the UK are set on fire by individuals who falsely believe the technology spreads the coronavirus. Telecom workers also face physical abuse as health officials and scientists urgently debunk the baseless claims.
At least a dozen 5G phone towers in the UK suffer arson attacks as conspiracy theorists falsely claim the technology spreads the coronavirus. Major mobile operators including Vodafone, EE, and Three UK confirm that their infrastructure is damaged, with videos of the fires circulating widely on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
The vandalism extends beyond the physical towers, as telecom engineers designated as key workers face verbal and physical abuse while performing their jobs. NHS national medical director Stephen Powis dismisses these 5G theories as "complete and utter rubbish," while scientists criticize celebrities like Woody Harrelson and M.I.A. for amplifying the debunked claims to their large audiences.
Despite a total lack of scientific evidence linking 5G networks to the global pandemic, the dangerous misinformation continues to proliferate online. In response to the escalating situation, the UK culture secretary prepares to order social media companies to take much more aggressive action against the harmful conspiracy content.