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2d ago

Cannes Power Outages Linked to Sabotage as Anarchist Groups Claim Responsibility

Deliberate acts of sabotage disrupted power in southeastern France, affecting the Cannes Film Festival and Nice, with investigations ongoing into the incidents.

People waiting at a station after a significant power outage was reported by local authorities in Alpes-Maritimes in France on May 24, 2025.
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Shop employees wait during an electricity outage in Cannes, southern France, on May 24.

Overview

  • On Saturday, May 24, 2025, a major power outage affected 160,000 households in the Cannes region during the Cannes Film Festival's final day, caused by arson at a substation and damage to an electricity pylon.
  • Despite the disruptions, the Cannes Film Festival's closing ceremony proceeded as planned, with Jafar Panahi's film 'It Was Just an Accident' winning the Palme d'Or.
  • A second power outage hit Nice on Sunday, May 25, 2025, leaving 45,000 homes without electricity, also attributed to sabotage involving a fire at a transformer.
  • Two anarchist groups have claimed responsibility for the outages, stating their intent was to disrupt the Cannes Film Festival and industrial establishments in the region.
  • Authorities, including local officials and police, have condemned the 'malicious acts' and are intensifying security around key electrical infrastructure as investigations continue.