Euro 2016 terror fears: France on high alert as security official warns of sleeper cells
FRANCE is on high alert for a terror plot during the Euro 2016 football championship after a senior security official admitted he was “worried” about sleeper cells already based in Europe which were waiting to pounce.
The unnamed counter-terrorism officer said the French security services had done “as much as possible” ahead of Friday’s opening match in Paris.
But he also acknowledged that Europe’s “borders cannot be controlled” and warned of terror cells in Germany “who have stayed quiet and waited”.
Just yesterday, Ukraine’s security services arrested a French national reported to be planning 15 separate attacks in France on the eve and during the football tournament.
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Millions of football fans will descend on France this week as the start of the month-long competition gets underway.
Recent terror attacks in Paris and Brussels have raised fears of a similar strike on the Euro 2016 event, which would be seen a a high-profile target.
The unnamed security official, speaking to AFP, said France was deploying thousands of officers on the streets.
He explained: “From the point of view of preparation, we have done as much as possible. Everyone has been mobilised: police, paramilitaries, many soldiers," a senior counter-terrorism official told AFP, on condition of anonymity.”
But he added: “To be totally honest, I'm worried.
"What really worries us above all is the guys who are already here in Europe -- guys that are already in Germany for example, that we haven't seen arrive, that the Germans haven't found, who have stayed quiet and waited.
"We have re-established some borders, but we shouldn't dream -- borders cannot be controlled.”
French intelligence has also warned that 82 security officers hired to guard the football cup are on terror watch lists.
France’s Directorate General of Internal Security (ISB) has screened 3,500 individuals signed up to work at the tournament.
But dozens of those had red flags for links to extremist groups, including Islamic State and right- and left-wing militant organisations.
Around 77,000 police officers and thousands of security and military personnel as well as volunteers.
Each football team will also be given 17 police officers and two agents with France’s elite special forces for extra protection.
The release yesterday of dramatic footage of the arrest of a French national accused of plotting attacks on the eve of the championship suggests terror fears are well-founded.
The suspect had mosques and synagogues on his strike list and was caught with 125kg of TNT and weapons.
The head of Ukraine's State Security Service (SBU) said the suspect, who had made contact will illegal armed groups in the country, intended to target Muslim and Jewish places of worship as well as government buildings in France.
Last week, the US State Department released a warning of the possible threat of terrorist attacks carried about by ISIS in France this summer.
France steps up security ahead of Euro 2016 as President Francois Hollande admits a threat exists
The official note stated: "We are alerting U.S. citizens to the risk of potential terrorist attacks throughout Europe, targeting major events, tourist sites, restaurants, commercial centres and transportation.
"The large number of tourists visiting Europe in the summer months will present greater targets for terrorists planning attacks in public locations, especially at large events.”
