A care company boss who claims his phone lines were cut by conspiracy theorists has branded the culprits ‘idiots’ for thinking 5G is causing the coronavirus.
Majestic Care North West, which provides vital end-of-life care, was left with internet or phone connection after their cables were cut in an overnight targeted attack.
The firm’s office was one of three businesses who reported having their cables cut in Burnley town centre, boss Alan Cooper said.
After speaking to internet provider BT Openreach, he believes the lines were sabotaged by believers of a conspiracy theory that roll-out of 5G caused Covid-19.
Majestic Care North West, in Burnley, was left without internet or a phone connection after the lines were cut but unknown vandals
Pictured: The line now has a metal shield around it to protect it from future attacks. Office boss Alan Cooper believes it was cut by people who think 5G causes the coronavirus
There is no scientific evidence that 5G technology poses any threat to human health and it was confirmed as safe by the radiation watchdog last month.
But a conspiracy theory that is circulating over online channels by people who believe that ‘elites’ are using the masts in order to weaken the immune systems of people so that they are more susceptible to getting coronavirus.
Believers point to the fact that masts went up in the same year that Covid-19 originated in Wuhan, China, but don’t account for the fact that Iran, which has been disastrously affected by the virus, has no masts.
The attack comes as 5G masts were burnt down in Liverpool and Birmingham after the bonkers conspiracy theory was shared on social media.
Masts have also been attacked in Liverpool and Birmingham. Pictured: A 4G mast was set aflame in Chelmsley Wood, Solihull
Pictured: The aftermath of a 4G mast that was set alight by vandals who believed it to be a 5G mast, which they believe the coronavirus is causing the coronavirus to spread
Mr Cooper said: ‘The main cables to our offices were completely cut, probably with the use of an axe, as there’s no way you could cut those cables with snippers, they’re too thick.
‘We provide end-of-life and continuing healthcare on behalf of the NHS and these care services are vital to people, and cannot be late or missed.
‘Currently, we’re providing essential healthcare for several Covid-19 patients, and as a result of this idiocy, we were left with serious communication problems between care-co-ordinators and support workers.’
Mr Cooper said the phone lines went down around 4.20am on April 3 and BT repaired them by mid-afternoon due to the nature of their work.
He added: ‘They armour plated the cables to prevent further damage.
‘At the time, we didn’t know the lines had been cut, it was only when a police officer came past later in the evening to ask if we had our internet back did we find out it had happened elsewhere in the town and they were investigating.
‘These acts of vandalism could possibly be the work of people that mistakenly believe the Covid-19 virus is caused by 5G transmissions.
‘There are a lot of people who think like that, they’re trying to find something to blame the virus on but 5G is not it. They’re idiots.
‘To have the cables cut in three locations, on the same day, around the same time, it’s not coincidence.
‘I just hope they’re caught before they do more damage.’
UK phone networks began rolling out 5G in 2019, which boasts faster mobile internet speeds than 4G which most phones currently use
A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said they were called at 7.40pm on April 3 to a report that the phone lines had been cut.
The spokesperson added: ‘At this stage we are not sure what was used to cut the wires. We are looking at local CCTV and enquiries are ongoing.
‘No arrests have been made.
‘This is a deplorable crime at the premises of a healthcare provider amid the current pandemic.
‘We would appeal for anyone with information to please get in touch to help us find those responsible.
‘We understand people may be reluctant to come forward during this time especially if they have not been following the government guidelines about staying at home.
‘But I would reassure them that our immediate concern is to find out what happened here and we would urge anyone who has any information, no matter how insignificant they may feel it to be, to come forward and speak to us.’
Cabinet Secretary Michael Gove has said that the theories are ‘dangerous nonsense’. Pictured: Michael Gove address the nation during the Government daily coronavirus briefing
Cabinet Secretary Michael Gove said the theories spreading from various social media groups and profiles were ‘just nonsense, dangerous nonsense as well.’
Dr Michael Head, senior research fellow in global health at the University of Southampton, said: ‘Conspiracy theorists are a public health danger who once read a Facebook page.
‘Here, we also see similar groups of people keen to show their ignorance on a topic where they have no helpful expertise, nor any inclination to post useful public health messages.’
The world health organisation has branded the spread of disinformation about COVID-19 on social media platforms as an ‘infodemic’.
On 5G generally the World Health Organisation said: ”A large number of studies have been performed over the last two decades to assess whether mobile phones pose a potential health risk.
‘To date, no adverse health effects have been established as being caused by mobile phone use.’
The UK has now seen 78,991 confirmed cases of the coronavirus. 9,875 people have died as a result of the diseases