MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Massive blackout

Chilean authorities are investigating an attack on a high power grid in the north of the country that left 300,000 people without electricity.

According to initial reports nine towers, --seven to the south and two to the north of Copiapo capital of the Thrid Region--, were knocked down causing the massive blackout that extended well into September 11th, when Chile remembered the thirtieth anniversary of the 1973 downfall of Socialist elected president Salvador Allende.

Police reported that tracks in the ground indicate that heavy powered double traction trucks were used to pull the cables down.

Pamphlets and literature allusive to September 11th reportedly belonging to an extreme radical guerrilla movement were found next to all the towers. The Frente Manuel Rodríguez is known to be occasionally active both in Chile and neighbouring countries involved in trying to liberate imprisoned comrades or kidnapping for ransom.

However the Chilean police was rather cautious about describing the action as politically motivated since the northern grid has also been targeted by robbers who plunder high quality metal.