Astronomers Baffled by Jodrell Sabotage Bid
A MULTI-MILLION pound project at Jodrell Bank has been hit by a series of strange, unexplained sabotage attacks.
Astronomers at the observatory are baffled and say the incidents could harm a global effort by specialists from the University of Manchester to scan the heavens and unlock the secrets of the universe.
Police are investigating six separate incidents where telephone lines linking the telescope with the control centre have been deliberately cut.
Experts say the saboteur must have detailed knowledge of a project called Merlin which is being operated at the observatory.
But it is not clear if the attacker is a modern-day Luddite opposed to scientific progress, someone with a grudge against the astronomers or an educated vandal.
Conspiracy theorists could look towards an extra-terrestrial force hoping to keep us in the dark about life elsewhere in the cosmos.
Dr Tony Battilana, the chief engineer at Jodrell Bank, said: We don't know if the culprit has a grudge against us or whether it is simply vandalism. "The police have asked if there is anybody with a grudge against us but we don't believe there is.
"The attacks have been on buried junction boxes and equipment above ground as well. It would not be obvious to anyone without specialised knowledge that we use the lines in question."
He said that every time the lines have been cut, work has had to be suspended on the Merlin project for an entire day. "The effect is to delay our programme of observations," Dr Battilana added.
"If one telescope goes down, the whole network is effectively stopped. It is very annoying and we hope the police catch whoever is doing this very soon."
Merlin is the name of a project that links a series of telescopes around the country to form a single giant telescope that is effectively 135.6 miles wide. The project gives astronomers at Jodrell Bank a facility that is more powerful than the Hubble Space Telescope.
Police confirmed the incidents are being investigated.
Oh swell, now we have to deal with extra-terrestrial terrorists.