AN “ultra-left anarchist gang” has claimed accountability for a blackout that plunged 160,000 properties into darkness on the Côte d’Azur – simply hours earlier than the Cannes Movie Competition awards present.

French prosecutors in Grasse and Draguignan have now launched a probe into suspected sabotage after a shadowy assertion was posted on-line by the group.

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Within the nameless launch the group mentioned: “We sabotaged the principle electrical substation supplying the Cannes metropolitan space and lower down the 225 kV line coming from Good.”

They claimed the dramatic blackout was a deliberate try and cripple key infrastructure together with analysis centres, start-ups, an aerospace manufacturing unit, the native airport, and army and technological hubs.

Hundreds of properties within the iconic French Riviera have been left in darkness from round 10am on Saturday till the blackout was resolved at 4.30pm native time.

The suspected saboteurs wrote they focused the area “on the eve of the Cannes Movie Competition awards ceremony and gala night” in what gave the impression to be a political assertion, BFM TV stories.

Authorities have but to confirm the authenticity of the claims.

An preliminary arson assault struck {an electrical} substation in Tanneron, within the Var area, at round 2.45am on Saturday, weakening the ability grid.

Hours later, a high-voltage pylon in Villeneuve-Loubet was found sawed by way of – additional destabilising the community and triggering widespread outages.

The Draguignan prosecutor’s workplace has opened an investigation into the primary assault, whereas a separate probe has been launched by prosecutors in Grasse into the second.

Each are nonetheless ongoing.

The 78th Cannes Movie Competition, held from Could 13 to 24, 2025, reworked the French Riviera right into a hub of cinematic celebration and glamour.

Drawing over 35,000 attendees from across the globe, the pageant showcased a various array of movies and attracted a constellation of stars to its iconic purple carpet.

The pageant’s high honor, the Palme d’Or, was awarded to Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi for his poignant drama “It Was Simply an Accident.”

The Côte d’Azur blackout comes after a large outage plunged Spain and Portugal into chaos – forcing each nations right into a state of emergency.

Final month, energy was worn out throughout the Iberian Peninsula, shutting down hospitals, halting trains, and bringing air site visitors to a standstill.

Officers blamed the disruption on a “uncommon atmospheric phenomenon.”

Panic-buying erupted throughout Spain and Portugal, with buyers clearing grocery store cabinets and queuing for hours outdoors shops and ATMs.

Within the Canary Islands, residents have been warned that meals provide shipments from the mainland could be disrupted, sparking additional chaos.

Hospitals cancelled surgical procedures, Madrid’s underground community was evacuated, and a serious tennis match on the Madrid Open was suspended after a loud “bang” echoed by way of the venue.

Roads throughout Spain, Portugal, and elements of France descended into gridlock as lights and indicators failed.

Emergency providers have been scrambled to handle the mayhem and fears of looting after dusk grew.

Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez later confirmed that energy had been partially restored, however disruption lingered for days – with cellular networks nonetheless down in some areas, together with Ibiza.

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