AN “ultra-left anarchist gang” has claimed responsibility for a blackout that plunged 160,000 homes into darkness on the Côte d’Azur – just hours before the Cannes Film Festival awards show.
French prosecutors in Grasse and Draguignan have now launched a probe into suspected sabotage after a shadowy statement was posted online by the group.
GettyAN “ultra-left anarchist gang” has claimed responsibility for a blackout on the Côte d’Azur[/caption]
Shutterstock EditorialThe power outage came just hours before the prestigious Cannes Film Festival awards show[/caption]
Shutterstock EditorialFrench prosecutors have now launched a probe into suspected sabotage[/caption]
AP:Associated PressThe outage lasted from around 10am on Saturday until 4.30pm local time (stock image)[/caption]
In the anonymous release the group said: “We sabotaged the main electrical substation supplying the Cannes metropolitan area and cut down the 225 kV line coming from Nice.”
They claimed the dramatic blackout was a deliberate attempt to cripple key infrastructure including research centres, start-ups, an aerospace factory, the local airport, and military and technological hubs.
Thousands of homes in the iconic French Riviera were left in darkness from around 10am on Saturday until the blackout was resolved at 4.30pm local time.
The suspected saboteurs wrote they targeted the region “on the eve of the Cannes Film Festival awards ceremony and gala evening” in what appeared to be a political statement, BFM TV reports.
Authorities have yet to verify the authenticity of the claims.
An initial arson attack struck an electrical substation in Tanneron, in the Var region, at around 2.45am on Saturday, weakening the power grid.
Hours later, a high-voltage pylon in Villeneuve-Loubet was discovered sawed through – further destabilising the network and triggering widespread outages.
The Draguignan prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into the first attack, while a separate probe has been launched by prosecutors in Grasse into the second.
Both are still ongoing.
The 78th Cannes Film Festival, held from May 13 to 24, 2025, transformed the French Riviera into a hub of cinematic celebration and glamour.
Drawing over 35,000 attendees from around the globe, the festival showcased a diverse array of films and attracted a constellation of stars to its iconic red carpet.
The festival’s top honor, the Palme d’Or, was awarded to Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi for his poignant drama “It Was Just an Accident.”
The Côte d’Azur blackout comes after a massive outage plunged Spain and Portugal into chaos – forcing both nations into a state of emergency.
Last month, power was wiped out across the Iberian Peninsula, shutting down hospitals, halting trains, and bringing air traffic to a standstill.
Officials blamed the disruption on a “rare atmospheric phenomenon.”
Panic-buying erupted across Spain and Portugal, with shoppers clearing supermarket shelves and queuing for hours outside stores and ATMs.
In the Canary Islands, residents were warned that food supply shipments from the mainland would be disrupted, sparking further chaos.
Hospitals cancelled surgeries, Madrid’s underground network was evacuated, and a major tennis match at the Madrid Open was suspended after a loud “bang” echoed through the venue.
Roads across Spain, Portugal, and parts of France descended into gridlock as lights and signals failed.
Emergency services were scrambled to manage the mayhem and fears of looting after nightfall grew.
Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez later confirmed that power had been partially restored, but disruption lingered for days – with mobile networks still down in some areas, including Ibiza.
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