British football fans warned of terrorism threat at Euro 2016
BRITISH football fans travelling to Euro 2016 have been warned to be vigilant after the Government said stadiums were potential targets for terrorist attacks.
Updated advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) highlights stadiums, fan zones, other venues broadcasting the tournament and transport hubs as potential targets for atrocities during the European Championships in France.
It comes after a French citizen who was arrested with a “vast arsenal” of explosives and assault rifles was found to have been planning “15 attacks” to coincide with the tournament.
News of the plot came as French intelligence said it was “deeply concerned” about a potential attack from home-grown terrorists following the slaying of 16 Real Madrid fans this month in Iraq.
British counter-terrorism officers have said they are playing “a key part” in planning against possible attacks and are working with French police and intelligence services to assess possible threats. Commander Dean Hay- don, the head of Scotland Yard’s antiterror squad, said: “As we approach the Euros, any operation such as that in any country is clearly a concern.
“As you would expect, we are working with the French and other local police and security and intelligence agencies across the world to properly understand the threat to the Euros. Certainly we have seen propaganda, Isil and potential talk of plots against the Euros, but we’re working with all those various different agencies to police and make the Euros a safe event and a safe games.
“We’re a key part of the planning. Although the ultimate policing of the event and the planning is for the French, we are all involved in properly trying to understand the threat, if there is one.”
The advice from the Foreign Office was updated after David Cameron chaired a meeting on preparations for the tournament.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We have updated the travel advice to provide further information for fans on the risk of terrorism in France as they start to travel for Euro 2016.
“This is consistent with the advice we have already issued for France and is not in response to a new or specific threat or yesterday’s arrest.
“The relevant UK authorities are in constant contact with the Euro 2016 organisers and local authorities. France has lots of experience of hosting largescale events and the authorities have undertaken extensive preparations for the tournament.”
A Downing Street spokesman said the French authorities “have an extensive security operation in place, with 77,000 police and gendarmes, 10,000 military personnel and a similar amount of security guards”.
She added: “We are providing additional counter-terrorism and public order support to the French.
“That includes, for example, the deployment of additional police on trains into France and more UK Border Force outbound checks.”