By Samindra Kunti
May 20 – France has extended a nationwide state of emergency to cover EURO 2016 and the Tour de France this summer. German intelligence has warned that the tournament’s opening match and final are major terrorist targets.
The state of emergency will end on July 26, exactly one day after the conclusion of the Tour de France, the world’s biggest cycling road race. The state of emergency has been in place since the Paris terrorist attacks on November 13 last year which killed 130 people, with the Stade de France among the locations targeted during the friendly match between France and Germany.
“The terrorist threat remains at a high level and France, like the EU, is a target,” said French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve.
“Giving up on sporting events and cultural events is precisely to give in to the terrorist threat,” French Prime Minister Valls told French radio. “The ruling allows police to hold people under house arrest whose behavior is considered “a threat to security and public order.”
Thursday’s parliamentary vote will maintain expansive powers for the local police, who can put people under house arrest outside the normal judicial process, conduct house raids and searches and put restrictions on large gatherings. House raids and searches will require a warrant.
In April the government stated that since the measures have been in implemented in November some 3,500 searches have been carried out, with at least 56 suspects taken into custody and 69 people placed under house arrest.
France will welcome millions of fans this summer as it hosts EURO 2016, the biggest European Championship yet with 24 participating countries playing in 10 different venues. French security services and local organisers are on tenterhooks with the increased security threat. The quadrennial event has nearly sold out with 2.5 million ticket holders, but many more fans are expected to come to France to savior the atmosphere and watch matches in fan zones.
Germany’s Criminal Police Office (BKA) has issued a clear warning of possible Islamist attacks during the tournament.
German tabloid ‘Bild’ cited a BKA report titled ‘Threat situation for the UEFA European Football Championship 2016’ to highlight that both the opening match and final at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis are possible targets for terrorists. The German national team is also cited as a target.
“A successful attack on teams of ‘Crusader nations’ would be particularly symbolic,” the BKA document warned. It’s a reference to teams from predominantly Christian western countries, including Germany. France remains a main target for “Islamist-motivated perpetrators,” the document said, because of the country’s colonial history and its involvement in the fight against the Islamic State.
There are also fears that ‘irrational, fanatical lone wolves’ may become perpetrators. Earlier this week, Europol Director Rob Wainwright warned of possible terrorist attacks at Euro 2016.
French President Francois Hollande is not taking any chances. He has raised the security budget for EURO 2016 by 15%. Some 3,000 additional security personnel will be on hand as part of the extra security measures.
”Euro 2016 should be a pursuit that includes coming together, unity, respect, tolerance and – within the context that we know – a form of response. A response to hatred. To division. To fear. To horror,” Hollande said.
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