Vandals Cut AT&T Fibre Optic Lines In San Jose Affecting Thousands

Police in San Jose are investigating two incidents involving severed AT&T and Sprint fibre optic cable that knocked out landline, mobile and internet service to thousands of Silicon Valley residents.

“We’re treating this as a crime scene,” Lopez said.

Four AT&T fibre-optic cables were severed shortly before 1:30 a.m. along Monterey Highway north of Blossom Hill Road in south San Jose, police Sgt. Ronnie Lopez said. Sprint’s cable in San Carlos was cut about two hours later, a company official said. The exact location was not immediately known.

With all of the economic turmoil going on, who would be surprised to find out that this was the work of some disgruntled employee? I, for one, would not be. As the article notes, The vandalism comes as AT&T talks with the Communications Workers of America about re-working a contract for 80,000 employees. A strike was authorised in March, but so far a date has not been set. Hit up SFGate to check out video of the scene. [SFGate]

UPDATE: A $US100,000 reward has been offered by AT&T for information that leads to an arrest.