Police in Belfast are investigating the latest in a series of fire attacks on 5G masts in the city. There have now been 14 such attacks across west Belfast since January 2023, with some causing extensive damage and a deterioration in phone signal across the area.

The latest was at an industrial estate in the Dunmurry area yesterday afternoon, with the blaze extinguished by the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service. It is not clear if the incidents are the work of an individual or a small group as there have been two coordinated attacks at a number of locations.

In June 2023, five masts were set alight over a four-hour period and just over a year later in July 2024 four were targeted within 48 hours.

A spokesperson for Virgin Media 02 told BBC Northern Ireland last week that arson attacks on masts were affecting the coverage "and capacity of the network".

Sinn Féin MP for West Belfast, Paul Maskey, has condemned those responsible, saying local people have complained about the phone signal for a long time. A survey conducted by the party in the area last month found that 87% of the 2,602 people who responded described the signal as poor or very poor.

"This behaviour is both ludicrous and absolutely nonsensical," he said in a statement. "Just a few weeks ago Sinn Féin published the results of a survey highlighting widespread mobile phone signal black spots across the west of the city, some of which are due to damage caused to masts. We will continue our efforts to secure better mobile coverage for our communities. Those responsible for this disgraceful vandalism must be brought to justice, and I urge anyone with information to come forward and contact the PSNI."

The PSNI has appealed to anyone with information about the attacks to contact them.

Source: RTE.ie.