A COMMUNICATIONS company has hit out at people who are targeting its engineers with abuse and threats because of a bogus theory that 5G is responsible for the coronavirus pandemic.

Openreach, the UK's largest phone and broadband network, says there have been more than 1,100 incidents in the North-East, with engineers subjected to "mindless verbal abuse and intimidation".

The company says the issue is hampering essential work aimed at keeping the region connected, despite surging demand.

Robert Thorburn, Openreach’s regional partnership director for the North, said: “These recent attacks on our engineers, here and elsewhere in the UK, is not only deeply concerning but totally misjudged. They’re playing a vital role in connecting crucial public services, vulnerable customers and millions of friends, families and businesses. They are not working on installing 5G.

“Our engineers are designated key workers and closely following government guidance in terms of social distancing. At this time, they’re primarily focussed on the build, repair and maintenance of connections that support critical national infrastructure.

“This work includes the NHS – where our engineers have been installing and upgrading phone and broadband services in support of the new Nightingale hospitals, including in Harrogate.”.

Openreach, which is used by customers of BT, Sky, Plusnet, TalkTalk, among others, plays a role in connecting the region’s essential public services including GP surgeries, pharmacies, emergency services, and food distribution outlets.

It has seen an increase in internet usage of 20 per cent since the start of the pandemic, linked to home working and home schooling.

The vast majority of incidents involving engineers are linked to theories circulating that 5G is responsible for the coronavirus crisis, the company said.

Mobile phone masts across the country have also been targeted in arson attacks as conspiracists claim the electromagnetic waves of the network have somehow induced the pandemic.

An engineer working on telegraph poles in the Gateshead area was verbally abused twice by different members of the public and accused of killing people by installing 5G.

While in the Washington an engineer working on a fibre installation was shouted at and threatened with physical harm.

In other parts of the region, and the UK, dozens of engineers have had bottles of water thrown at them, been threatened with physical harm, and warned that the Openreach network will be damaged, as well as being subjected to a huge amount of verbal abuse, and in one case, having someone pretend to shoot at them with a gun hand gesture.

There is no evidence of any link between coronavirus and 5G and no evidence of health risks linked to the technology.