Burning of 5G masts ‘reckless and destructive' says MP as fire service tackles second Belfast blaze in a week
The PSNI and Northern Ireland Fire Service responded to reports of a fire in the Stewartstown Road area shortly before 12:30am on Wednesday, June 11.
Emergency services also responded to reports of a separate 5G mast fire in the Poleglass area over the weekend.
Sergeant Burns said: "We attended this alongside colleagues from Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service who worked to extinguish the blaze of a 5G mast tower which had been set alight deliberately.
"This is just one of a number of 5G masts that have been set on fire in recent months and we have attended two fires in less than a week to masts in the same area.'
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey called on those responsible to stop 'harming our community'.
'Those involved in targeting vital infrastructure in west Belfast must end this reckless and destructive behaviour," said the West Belfast MP.
'They are causing serious harm to our community and putting lives at risk.
'This is happening at a time when there is a clear and growing demand for better connectivity, with thousands of residents reporting poor mobile signal.
'I'm in London today to make the case directly to network providers that urgent investment is needed to upgrade infrastructure in areas that have been left behind.
'These disgraceful actions will not deter us from our campaign to secure better mobile coverage for our communities. Anyone with information should contact the PSNI."
Sergeant Burns said that those setting 5G masts alight are putting themselves and members of the public at risk.
He added: "I cannot stress enough how dangerous it is lighting fire to electrical equipment. Anyone setting an illegal fire is acting extremely recklessly and putting not only themselves, but also members of the public, at risk.
'The damage caused costs the mast-owners a substantial amount of money to correct, and affects the mobile phone service of the local community."
News Catch Up - Wednesday 11th June 2025
Yesterday's attack brings the total number of 5G masts destroyed in the west Belfast area over the past two years to more than thirteen.
It follows a 5G mast in the Poleglass area being set alight at the weekend.
Two fire appliances and an aerial platform were tasked to the blaze in the Springbank Industrial estate in west Belfast at around 2.30pm on Saturday.
A survey carried out by Sinn Féin, published in the Andersonstown News in May, revealed that 87 percent of people in west Belfast reported that their phone signal was poor or very poor.
Only three percent of the 2,600 respondents stated their signal was good or excellent.
The report listed the top three areas for poor signal across West Belfast as being the Glen Road, Turf Lodge, and Andersonstown areas.
A police investigation into the attacks on 5G masts remains ongoing.
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Belfast Telegraph
an hour ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Anti-racism rally to take place in Belfast as PSNI officers are attacked with petrol bombs during riot
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The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
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Sky News
6 hours ago
- Sky News
Ballymena disorder: Six arrested in Northern Ireland - as 32 officers injured in second night of violence
Six people have been arrested after disorder broke out for a second night across Northern Ireland, with 32 officers injured. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said officers in Ballymena "came under sustained attack over a number of hours" with fireworks, petrol bombs and bricks. Tuesday evening saw a second night of rioting and disorder in the Co Antrim town, with "sporadic disorder" reported in Belfast, Newtownabbey and Carrickfergus. Protests also took place in areas of Lisburn and Coleraine. Stormont ministers across the powersharing Executive have condemned the disorder, saying those who look to exploit anger over an alleged sexual assault in Ballymena over the weekend to "sow racial tensions... have nothing to offer their communities but division and disorder". Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told MPs: "I utterly condemn the violence that we have seen overnight in Ballymena and in other parts of Northern Ireland." Some of the officers injured in Ballymena required hospital treatment, the force said, adding that it deployed Attenuating Energy Projectiles and a water cannon in an attempt to disperse the crowds. Five people were arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour. They remain in police custody as of Wednesday morning. The PSNI said a man was also arrested on suspicion of disorderly behaviour on the O'Neill Road in Newtownabbey. Violent disorder broke out in Ballymena on Monday following a peaceful protest supporting the family of a girl who was allegedly sexually assaulted in the area over the weekend. Two teenage boys have been charged with attempted rape. The charges were read to them by a Romanian interpreter at Coleraine Magistrates' Court on Monday. Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said on Tuesday that some anti-immigrant groups then broke away from the Ballymena vigil. He described the scenes as "racist thuggery" and said the force was actively working to identify those responsible for the "racially motivated disorder". Sky correspondent Connor Gillies, who was in Ballymena on Tuesday, said one family had to barricade itself into the attic of their home as the clashes worsened. 2:11 Other families displayed posters on their windows in a desperate bid to ensure their house did not become a target, or had Union Jack flags on full display. Photos from Ballymena show one property with its windows boarded up and signs saying "Filipino lives here". 'Justice needs to take its course' In response to the disorder, the leader of the conservative party Traditional Unionist Voice, Jim Allister, said that while the scenes were "very distressing," he pointed to concerns about "unchecked migration". "There has been a bit of authorities not wanting to face up to the racial background of some of this over the years," the MP for North Antrim added. "That unchecked migration which is beyond what the town can cope with, is a source of past and future tensions, that is the reality of it." Mr Allister then called for the violence to stop, and added he had spoken to the family of the girl who was the victim of the alleged sexual assault and that they did not want to see violent scenes. "There needs now to be a period of calm and justice needs to take its course," he added. Meanwhile, the leaders of Sinn Fein, the DUP, Alliance Party and UUP called for calm in a joint statement from the Stormont Executive. They said: "While all of our citizens have the right to engage in peaceful protest, there can never be any justification for the violence that has taken place in recent days, during which residents have been terrorised and numerous PSNI officers injured." 'Absolutely no justification' for violence - minister PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said: "The mindless violence witnessed over the past two nights in Ballymena is deeply concerning and utterly unacceptable." He added that "ironically, and frustratingly, this violence threatens to derail the very pursuit of justice it claims to challenge," and said: "Let me be clear: this behaviour must stop. I appeal to everyone involved to cease all further acts of criminality and disorder immediately." Hilary Benn, secretary of state for Northern Ireland, added on X: "The terrible scenes of civil disorder we have witnessed in Ballymena again this evening have no place in Northern Ireland. "There is absolutely no justification for attacks on PSNI officers or for vandalism directed at people's homes or property."
