On Sunday night in Nice, France, unknown persons set fire to an electrical transformer, causing a power outage in 45,000 households. This is the second large-scale attack on the power grid in the Maritime Alps region in the last two days, France Info reports.
The incident came after unknown persons sawed through three of the four poles of the high-voltage line that supplies Cannes the day before, causing a blackout for 160,000 homes and even a temporary suspension of the Cannes Film Festival.
“We have handed over the images from the surveillance centre to investigators and are stepping up security at strategic sites,” said Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi, calling the incident a “malicious act”. The city has already filed a complaint with the prosecutor’s office.
The French government perceived these events as a serious threat to the national infrastructure. Interior Minister Bruno Ritayo instructed prefectural governors to strengthen the protection of energy infrastructure across the country.
“I ask you to take immediate measures together with the operators to ensure the safety of the power grid facilities,” the minister said.
Law enforcers are considering a version of deliberate sabotage aimed at destabilising and disrupting important cultural and industrial events in the region.
