Spain opens SABOTAGE probe into blackouts as timeline pinpoints mystery ‘events’…& ‘unusual activity’ spotted in UK grid

Spain has initiated a sabotage investigation into the significant power outages following two mysterious “events” – while officials are searching for answers.

The national grid released a timeline of the colossal blackout that has set alarm bells ringing – with a judge investigating foul play.

A worker assists a customer with a torch at a supermarket during a power outage which hit large parts of Spain, in Barcelona, Spain April 28, 2025. REUTERS/Nacho Doce TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
A worker assists a customer with a torch at a supermarket during a power outage which hit large parts of Spain
Barcelona city police officer directing traffic during a power outage.
A city police officer directs traffic during the chaosCredit: Alamy
Long queue of travelers waiting for airport transit buses during a power outage in Barcelona, Spain.
Travellers were stranded amid travel chaosCredit: Alamy
Map illustrating alleged Russian sabotage incidents across Europe.
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, the president of the Andalusian regional government, suggested a cyber attack as the probable cause and suggested that all signs indicate a deliberate plan.

But Spain’s grid operators yesterday ruled out the cyber attack theory – though a national judge says it’s still on the cards.

Amid a tumultuous 24-hour period, authorities have been trying to provide reasons for the outages, citing possibilities such as a freak weather incident or issues related to net-zero power generation.

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.

He added 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.

Tennis star trapped in elevator as maintenance crew prise doors open after Spain and Portugal hit by huge blackout

Timeline of the blackout

RED Eléctrica de España, Spain’s electricity board, has released a preliminary timeline of the outages:

  1. At 12:33pm, the grid suffers an “event” akin to loss of power generation.
  2. Almost immediately, the grid self-stabilizes and recovers
  3. About 1.5 seconds later, a second “evenrt” akin to loss generation hits
  4. About 2.5 seconds later, Spain-France is interrupted due to grid instability
  5. Immediately afterwards, a “massive” loss of renewable power hits the system
  6. The power grid cascades into a collapse

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.

Portugal’s national grid operator, REN, said yesterady it believed a “rare atmospheric event” could be behind the outage.

It said that extreme temperature variations in Spain possibly led to surges in current and then system failures, in a process called “induced atmospheric variation”.

Investigators in Spain and Portugal don’t yet know what caused the power to fail, but will be well aware of Putin’s past plots to cripple European nations.

A Police car officers (R) patrols under switched-off traffic lights during a massive power cut affecting the entire Iberian peninsula and the south of France, in Madrid on April 28, 2025. A "massive" power cut late on April 28, 2025 morning affected the whole of the Iberian peninsula and part of France, according to Portuguese electricity network operator REN. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP) (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP via Getty Images)
Police cars patrol traffic caused by dead traffic lights in Madrid
Customers at a Barcelona food shop during a power outage.
Food stands in Barcelona attempt to keep running during the blackoutCredit: Getty

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.

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

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