Incident Summary:

11/05/2020: Assailants set fire to a 5G telecommunications mast on New Cross Street in West Bowling neighborhood, Bradford, England, United Kingdom. There were no reported casualties, but the mast was damaged in the attack. This was one of two related arsons targeting 5G masts in Bradford overnight. No group claimed responsibility for the incidents; however, authorities suspected that the incident may have been motivated by a conspiracy theory suggesting an unsubstantiated link between 5G radio waves and the COVID-19 pandemic.

GTD ID:
202011050019

When:
2020-11-05

Country:
United Kingdom

Region:
Western Europe

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

England

City:
Bradford

Location Details:
The incident occurred on New Cross St. in the West Bowling neighborhood.

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Facility/Infrastructure Attack
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Telecommunication
Name of Entity Unknown
Specific Description 5G Mast
Nationality of Target United Kingdom
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Unknown
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Incendiary Arson/Fire
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?Yes
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Conspiracy theory extremists No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 0 Fatalities / 0 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 0
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 0
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"Watch moment 5G mast is torched by 'barmy' arsonists in Bradford," examiner.co.uk, November 5, 2020.
"WATCH: Another 5G mast purposely set on fire overnight," Bradford Telegraph and Argus, November 5, 2020.