Ukraine’s intelligence agency SBU said on Monday it has thwarted a plot to attack soccer’s European Championships in France by arresting a Frenchman who wanted to cross from Ukraine into the European Union armed to the teeth.
(FOX)- “The Ukrainian Security Service has managed to foil a series of 15 terrorist attacks which were planned to target France before and during the European football championships,” Vasyl Hrytsak, the security agency’s chief, told national television.
The SBU said it had followed the man since December and allowed him to purchase five machine guns, two rocket propelled grenades and other weapons before he was arrested on the border between Ukraine and Poland last month.
It didn’t identify the man but said he wanted to protest against his government’s migration policies and the spread of Islam. It said he planned attacks on bridges, railways and other pieces of infrastructure for Euro 2016 that will be held in France.
Extremist attacks are a major concern for French authorities as they prepare to host the month-long tournament at stadiums in the Paris area and eight other cities from Friday through July 10. Islamic State extremists have threatened France during the tournament, but authorities have not confirmed specific dangers.
France is deploying 90,000 security forces for the tournament, and French President Francois Hollande said Sunday night that the threat of attacks won’t stop it from being successful.