Conspiracy theorists are thought to be hiding razor blades and needles behind anti-5G posters put up on phone masts in a bid to stop the authorities taking them down.
Councils and engineering firms warned conspiracy theorists have concealed needles and sharp pieces of metal in their propaganda to stop them being removed.
Previous incidents have been recorded in Derby and Kent, but now East Sussex authorities are warning residents and telecoms workers of a similar danger.
East Sussex Highways issued the stark warning urging anyone who sees the banners not to touch them and to report it to the police.
Conspiracy theorists are thought to be hiding razor blades and needles behind anti-5G posters put up on phone masts in a bid to stop the authorities taking them down. Pictured: a 5G phone mast
A spokesman for East Sussex County Council said it was made aware of posters being placed on various street furniture including telephone infrastructure, electricity cabinets and lamp posts.
The authority said some of these posters had blades placed behind them ‘in a deliberate attempt to injure anyone who attempts to remove them’.
A spokesman added: ‘If you see any posters or stickers with ‘anti-5G’ messages do not attempt to remove them. Please report this to the police instead. Thank you.’
East Sussex Highways said it was sharing the information from the Highway Electrical Association to make people aware of the dangers.
Openreach said employees have also seen posters booby-trapped with needles and razors.
A spokesman said: ‘We’ve received reports from other telecommunications companies that anti-5G posters have started to appear on street equipment.
The warning about razor blades comes after some 5G masts were set on fire, including this one in Derby
‘On closer inspection, the posters have had razor blades and needles stuck on the back.
‘Fortunately, none of our engineers have encountered these dangerous items but we’ve given them guidance about what to do if they do find any.’
Last month Openreach called for abuse directed at its workers over unsubstantiated online rumours that government coronavirus restrictions are part of a ploy to rollout 5G masts to stop.
The company said one of its engineers in Kent was verbally abused and a van attacked by a passer-by who accused them of being a ‘cancer spreader’ and a ‘coronavirus spreader’.
Openreach, which is used by customers of BT, Sky, Plusnet and TalkTalk, says it has seen an increase in its engineers being subjected to verbal abuse and intimidation by people taken in by the social media conspiracy theory that 5G is harmful.
Mobile phone masts across the country have also been targeted in arson attacks as conspiracists claim the electromagnetic waves of the 5G network have somehow induced the pandemic.
Government officials will meet with the companies after mobile masts in Birmingham, Merseyside and Belfast were set on fire
Twitter, Facebook and other social media companies are being urged by the government to deal with a spate of conspiracy theories linking 5G to coronavirus.
Ministers will meet with the companies after mobile masts in Birmingham, Merseyside and Belfast were set on fire following theories being posted online.
Mobile companies described the fears 5G caused coronavirus as ‘baseless’, with the government describing the theories as harmful to public health.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson said that the idea of 5G masts being responsible for coronavirus is a ‘crazed conspiracy theory’.
There is no scientific evidence that 5G technology poses any threat to human health and it was confirmed as safe by the radiation watchdog last month.
As well as mast burning, engineers have been facing physical and verbal threats from those who believe the ‘baseless’ theories being spread on social media.
One of the prominent fears being spread by people, including some celebrities, includes the idea that radiation from 5G masts lowers people’s immune system.
Culture secretary, Oliver Dowden, will meet with Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube and Twitter ‘to hammer the message home’ that the claims are ‘utter rubbish’.
A spokesperson for the UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport told the BBC they had several reports of criminal damage to phone masts and abuse of telecom engineers ‘inspired by crackpot conspiracy theories’.
‘Those responsible for criminal acts will face the full force of the law. We must also see social media companies acting responsibly and taking much swifter action to stop nonsense spreading on their platforms which encourages such acts.’