This archive report was first published on 16 June 2020.
Published on June 16, 2020, a day after the incident, villagers in Yapacani, Bolivia, destroyed four communications towers, fueled by conspiracy theories that 5G technology could spread the coronavirus.
The South American country has not yet implemented 5G wireless infrastructure, which has been linked to the pandemic in viral social media posts.
According to the conspiracy theory, electromagnetic radiation causes the symptoms of Covid-19, not a virus – an idea debunked by scientists.
Local police chief Franklin Villazon likened the incident to a 'terrorist attack', stating that the villagers were 'overwhelmed.'
Interior Minister Arturo Murillo accused people loyal to former president Evo Morales of destroying masts in Yapacani, as well as San Julian and Ichilo, two other eastern towns.
Bolivia's communications ministry issued a statement reassuring the public that 5G technology is not available in the country and is not linked to the respiratory illness.
Similar attacks on communications towers have been reported in other countries, including Britain, where a man was jailed for setting fire to a 5G mast.
