‘FAKE News’ has been condemned by a council leader after a mobile phone mast serving the NHS Nightingale hospital at the NEC was one of the latest to be targeted in a suspected arsonist attack.
Nick Jeffery, chief executive of Vodafone UK, revealed the mast providing connectivity between loved ones to the hospital – and used by NHS staff – was attacked over the weekend, among 40 such incidents nationwide.
He blamed ‘deluded conspiracy theorists’ for spreading false internet claims that 5G was linked to the spread of Covid-19.
Solihull Council leader Ian Courts said today: “I have mentioned before the proliferation of ‘Fake News’ during the Covid-19 crisis. The recent spate of attacks on 5G masts across the country is evidence of this dangerous phenomenon getting completely out of hand. “Mobile phone networks are now absolutely critical to all of us, particularly at a time when we are asking everybody to stay home.
“Some misguided individuals need to realise that their actions have real consequences. “One of the masts targeted over the weekend provides telecommunication to the Nightingale hospital at the NEC in Solihull.
“It could result in families not being able to say a final goodbye to their loved ones; hard-working doctors, nurses, social care workers and police officers not being able to phone their kids, partners or parents for a comforting chat.”
Mr Jeffery said on LinkedIn: “It’s heart-rending enough that families cannot be there at the bedside of loved ones who are critically ill.
“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.”