SPAIN has launched a sabotage investigation into the devastating power outages based on two mysterious “events”.
The national grid released a timeline of the colossal blackout that has set alarm bells ringing – with cyberterrorism being considered.
A worker assists a customer with a torch at a supermarket during a power outage which hit large parts of Spain
AlamyA city police officer directs traffic during the chaos[/caption]
AlamyTravellers were stranded amid travel chaos[/caption]
The cause of the blackouts is unknown – but would fit with the string of recent Russian plots against Europe
Suspicions were raised of a Russian sabotage attack almost immediately after the power failed, following a campaign of similar plots to hit Europe.
Juanma Moreno, president of the Andalusian regional government, said a cyber attack was the most likely cause – and claimed that everything pointed towards a deliberate scheme.
Red Eléctrica de España, Spain’s electricity board, produced a report showing an event that caused “losses of power generation” at 12:33pm – followed by another just 1.5 seconds later.
And the network between Spain and France was interrupted 3.5 seconds after that – leading to the widespread collapse of the supply.
Based on the information, National Court judge José Luis Calama opened up an investigation to determine whether sabotage and cyberterrorism were at play.
He demanded a more detailed preliminary report from the grid and investigators within ten days.
In an emailed statement, he said that while the root of the blackout is still unknown “cyber terrorism is among the possibilities”.
It has also emerged that Britain’s electricity grid operator is investigating mystery outages in the UK’s system hours before Spain and Portugal were plunged into blackouts.
The control room staff at the National Energy System Operator (Neso) noticed suspicious activity on Sunday, the Telegraph reports.
It confirmed there were unexpected shifts in the power frequency in the early morning and the evening.
A steady frequency within certain limits is vital to keeping power flowing.
The first problem in the UK, around 2am, was an outage at the Keadby 2 gas-fired power plant in Lincolnshire.
That was followed by the unexplained failure of the Viking Link interconnector between the UK and Denmark.
And then at around 6pm, the frequency shifted unexpectedly again – with the cause also currently unknown.
Investigators in Spain and Portugal do not yet know what caused the power to fail, but will be well aware of Putin’s past ploys to cripple European nations.
The governments of both Germany and the Czech Republic were hit with cyber assaults on the same day last year, May 3.
And Norwegian government websites were rendered unusable for a full day back in 2022.
Cyberattacks are just one weapon in Putin’s arsenal.
He has also peppered the continent with arson, bombs plots, “air terror”, and assassination plans.
A chorus of experts warned that last month’s Heathrow fire, which took out the airport’s power and entire service for a day, could also have been the work of Russia.
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Police cars patrol traffic caused by dead traffic lights in Madrid
GettyFood stands in Barcelona attempt to keep running during the blackout[/caption]
Timeline of Russian sabotage attacks across Europe
SINCE the war in Ukraine it is believed the Russians have launched a wave of sabotage attacks across Europe.
Oslo, Norway, June 29, 2022 – Cyberattack renders government websites unusable for 24 hours
Riga, Latvia, February 27, 2024 – Arson attack on’Museum of the Occuption’
London, UK, March 20, 2024 – Wagner-group linked arson attack at warehouse.
Wroclaw, Poland, April 18, 2024 – Plot to assassinate Zelensky foiled
Warsaw, Poland, April 13, 2024 – Warsaw shopping centre torched by suspected Russian agent
Berlin, Germany, May 3, 2024 – Cyberattacks on German politicians and companies
Prague, Czechia, May 3, 2024 – Mass cyber attacks on government and infrastructure
Vilnius, Lithuania, May, 9, 2024 – Arson attack on Ikea – targeted as store was same colour as Ukrainian flag
Paris, France, June 7, 2024 – Russian accused of planning plot to plant bomb at D-day celebration.
Dusseldorf, Germany, July 12, 2024 – Western intelligence reveal plot to assassinate German arms boss.
Birmingham, UK, July 22, 2024 – Russia suspected of planting device at DHL depot.
Warsaw, November 8, 2024 – Prosecutors reveal Russian parcel bomb plot across Europe
Vilnius, Lithuania, November 25, 2024 – DHL cargo plane crashes after suspected Russian package bomb
Baltic Sea, December 25, 2024 – Estlink-2 cable cut by ship anchor – one of many cable cutting attacks linked to Russia