More mobile masts were set on fire in the Netherlands and Belgium over the past weekend, despite warnings from the government and providers. Even the Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte spoke out against the practice at his weekly press conference.
In Amsterdam, two masts on a parking garage in the west of the city went up in flames. Another tower with equipment just over the Dutch border in Pelt, Belgium also was sent out fire, damaging equipment from Proximus and Telenet.
Other fires against mobile equipment have occurred in the past week in Cyprus and Croatia. Some of the attacks are thought to be linked to opponents to 5G and fake news over links to the coronavirus.
Belgian telecom regulator BIPT issued a statement warning of criminal consequences for any such attacks, both from mobile operators and third parties. The agency said such acts of violence were especially irresponsible during the coronavirus quarantine period, when people are more reliant on communications to be with family or at work and may be in needed of medical assistance.
