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5G mast in west Belfast deliberately set on fire

PA Media PSNI logo is on a mixed stone wall. The logo has a red and white cross centre, with a six pronged star surrounding it, there are six silver logos on a green background. There is an outer circle of silver writing on a black background. It says Police Service Northern Ireland. Around the entire logo are silver spikes. PA Media
Police said the fire was 'deliberate'

A fire at a 5G mast in west Belfast was deliberate, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has said.

Firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze on Stewartstown Road after it broke out at about 00:30 BST on Wednesday.

It followed a series of arson attacks on 5G masts in west Belfast, with the PSNI saying they have attended two such fires in less than a week.

Between January 2023 and December 2024, there were 13 incidents involving masts in the area, according to the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service.

'Unreliable phone signal'

Sergeant Burns said: "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 police officer added.

"The damage caused costs the mast-owners a substantial amount of money to correct, and affects the mobile phone service of the local community."

The vandalism has resulted in sporadic, unreliable phone signal in some areas with some residents reporting serious connectivity issues.