Arson attacks on Belfast 5G phone masts ‘extremely reckless’, say police

A spate of attacks on phone masts in Belfast has been described as “extremely reckless” by police.

In the latest incident a fire was started at a 5G mast in the Annadale Embankment area of south Belfast on Wednesday evening.

There have been at least six previous arson attacks, mainly in the west of the city, in recent months.

Inspector Roisin Brown said: “Officers attended, alongside colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, following a report that a 5G mast was alight, shortly after 10.15pm on Wednesday.

“This is just one of a number of 5G masts that have been set on fire recently and I cannot emphasise enough the dangers of lighting fire to electrical equipment.

“This is extremely reckless, and those responsible are putting themselves and members of the public at serious risk.”

The officer added: “We are treating this as arson, and would ask that anyone with information or dashcam footage to contact us on 101 quoting reference 1956 of 13/08/25.”

Sinn Fein MLA Deirdre Hargey said it was “senseless vandalism on a vital piece of infrastructure that does nothing but cause destruction”.

She added: “Those responsible have caused harm to our community and put lives at risk.”

South Belfast SDLP councillor Gary McKeown said the action would impact on people’s daily lives right across the area.

He said: “The mobile signal is bad enough in Belfast without ridiculous acts like this adding to it.

“We all rely on our mobile phones as part of our daily lives, but some members of our community are particularly dependent on them, whether it’s older people living alone, carers, or people running community organisations or small businesses.

“This is who will be hit the hardest by this misguided vandalism.

“We’ve already seen a spate of similar attacks in west Belfast.

“The last thing anyone wants to see is it spreading to other parts of the city. This has to stop.”