Police have arrested a man suspected of vandalising and burning Gamtel cables near the OIC Conference Centre—a serious act authorities say could have triggered a nationwide communications blackout.

The incident occurred on Monday, 7 July, when officers from the Police Intervention Unit (PIU), acting on a tip-off, found two individuals cutting and setting fire to the critical telecom infrastructure.

One suspect, identified as Manjohn Silver, was apprehended after attempting to flee the scene. The second suspect, Alhagie Secka, managed to escape and remains at large.

The Gambia Police Force has condemned the act as a grave national security threat and issued a stern warning to anyone involved in the theft, sale, or purchase of equipment belonging to Gamtel or other public utilities.

“These actions are not only criminal but have serious national security implications,” the police said in a statement. “Anyone found culpable will face the full force of the law.”