Desitdown News (Second suspected sabotage in France as power cut hits Nice) #desitdown #news

Second Suspected Sabotage in Southern France as Power Cut Hits Nice
Nice, France — May 25, 2025

Authorities in southern France are investigating a second major power outage within 48 hours, raising serious concerns of coordinated sabotage targeting critical infrastructure. The latest blackout occurred on Sunday morning in the city of Nice, affecting approximately 45,000 residents and numerous businesses. This follows a separate large-scale outage on Saturday that plunged Cannes into darkness during the final day of the world-renowned Cannes Film Festival.

According to officials, Sunday’s incident was caused by a fire at a key electrical transformer station in Nice. Emergency services responded swiftly to contain the blaze, but the damage had already resulted in widespread disruption to electricity supply. Initial assessments by technical experts and law enforcement indicate that the fire may have been intentionally set, prompting a criminal investigation. The fire bore similarities to the suspected arson attack in Cannes, where an electricity pylon was found deliberately damaged.

In the Cannes incident, around 160,000 households and several key venues, including areas hosting the film festival, lost power for hours on Saturday. Despite the setback, organizers confirmed that the festival's closing ceremony proceeded as planned, thanks to backup generators at the Palais des Festivals. However, local transport, traffic lights, and communication infrastructure were temporarily affected, causing significant public inconvenience.

The French energy transmission operator, RTE, reported that both outages involved deliberate interference with key infrastructure nodes. While officials have not confirmed a direct link between the two incidents, they acknowledge patterns that suggest coordination or premeditation. Surveillance footage, witness accounts, and forensic evidence are currently under review by investigators.

Nice’s mayor, Christian Estrosi, condemned the attacks in strong terms, calling them "an assault on public safety and civic order." He vowed to increase local surveillance and cooperate fully with national authorities to bring those responsible to justice. "This is not merely vandalism — this is sabotage, and we must treat it with the utmost seriousness," Estrosi said during a press briefing.

Interior Ministry officials have been briefed and are monitoring the investigation closely. While no suspects have yet been apprehended, authorities have not ruled out political or ideological motives behind the attacks. Intelligence services have been asked to assist with profiling and potential risk assessments for similar critical infrastructure sites across the region.
The French government has not officially declared the incidents acts of terrorism, but the suggestion of organized intent has prompted heightened security protocols around energy infrastructure in southeastern France.
As the investigation continues, both the public and industry stakeholders have been urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity near utility installations. Officials are also calling for calm, emphasizing that contingency plans are in place to manage the power grid during emergencies.

This marks one of the most significant threats to France’s energy infrastructure in recent years, sparking fresh debate about the vulnerability of essential services and the adequacy of current protective measures.

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