Anarchist groups behind Cannes and Nice blackouts
Two self-proclaimed anarchist groups admit to attacks that cut power to over 160,000 homes and disrupted Cannes Film Festival and nearby cities.
Image for illustrative purposes
France, Nice: Two anarchist groups in France have claimed responsibility for recent power outages that plunged parts of the French Riviera into darkness, affecting over 160,000 homes. The disruptions impacted key areas, including the city of Nice and the Cannes Film Festival, where power loss extended to traffic systems, ATMs, and other essential services.
Authorities had already suspected foul play following the discovery of deliberate damage to power facilities. According to the prosecutor’s office, a transformer fire in the Moulins district of western Nice was part of a coordinated attack, possibly linked to broader sabotage efforts in the region.
On 25 May, UK media reported that the groups issued an anonymous letter claiming the actions were meant “not only to disrupt the festival, but also to deprive all industrial establishments of electricity.” However, no specific motivation behind the targeting of the festival or industry was disclosed.
The Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, strongly condemned the incidents and announced plans to reinforce security at electrical sites across the city. He confirmed that a formal complaint would be filed.
Power was restored by early in the morning of 25 May in Nice and surrounding towns like Saint-Laurent-du-Var and Cagnes-sur-Mer.
These claims come just after a suspected sabotage triggered a second major outage in Nice, following a separate blackout in Cannes the previous day. That earlier event saw a high-voltage substation set ablaze and a transmission pylon cut down. Despite the turmoil, the Cannes Film Festival concluded on schedule, thanks to backup power systems.
Source: Yahoo News
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