Saint-Jean-du-Gard, France : Fire to a relay antenna a few hours before the final of the football world cup
“Will the inhabitants of the municipality of Saint-Jean-du-Gard be able to watch the final of the football world cup on Sunday? It’s not sure … A relay, which serves both for the telephone and television, has been burned.
The damage was noticed on Saturday. Its criminal origin is indisputable, because the grid leading to the relay installed in the town was cut and firelighters to facilitate the fire were found at the base of the apparatus.
An act of vandalism that has not been claimed for the moment. Many inhabitants of the Cévenol village and the sector were without telephone or television this Saturday evening. A gendarmerie investigation is under way …. “
“The transmitter of France Bleu Gard Lozère serving the area of Saint-Jean-du-Gard has been out of service since Monday morning. It was damaged following apparent arson. TDF services expect a return to normal by the end of the week. “
[Translated by Act for Freedom Now]
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Saint-Jean-du-Gard, France : Some details about the burning of a TDF relay antenna on July 14
A report from France 3 local tells us a little more about the burning of the TDF relay antenna in St Jean du Gard.
Set alight on July 14 around midday, « access to the relay and the pylon was cut with pincers and wood positioned near the electric inlet to allow the fire to get a good start. » In addition to TV, it seems also sabotage of the mobile telephony (reaching Saint-Jean-du-Gard, Anduze and Thoiras) that does a lot of talking in this tourist area in summer, and repairs should take … at least 3 weeks.
It seems that the radio will be restored first, “the Internet passes in places” but that for the rest (including TNT), it will take several weeks.
In the report in question, we hear for example a boss of a bar-restaurant, who complains of no longer having any internet connection with the operator Orange. She says she cannot work because of this sabotage. In addition to heavy material damage to the structure of the antenna, it is therefore a good blow to the tourism and commercial activity of the region during this summer vacation period.
[Translated by Act for Freedom Now]
