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US Warns of Europe Terror Threat

US Warns of Europe Terror Threat
US Warns of Europe Terror Threat

The US has warned that the Euro 2016 football championship being held in France next month could be a target of militant attacks.

“The large number of tourists visiting Europe in the summer months will present greater targets for terrorists,” the US State Department said.

The event is being hosted from June 10 to July 10 at various venues. France is already under a state of emergency following last year’s IS-claimed attacks in Paris. The near-simultaneous assaults on a stadium, concert hall and restaurants left 130 people dead and many more wounded, Euro News reported.

In March, 32 people died in neighboring Belgium when suicide blasts hit Brussels airport and a metro station.

Up to a million foreign fans are expected in France for the tournament, which involves the continent’s top national teams. In its travel alert for US citizens, the State Department warns of the dangers of militant attacks throughout Europe.

For the third time, France is hosting the European football championship

While it routinely issues travel alerts for short-term risks worldwide, this is only the third time in 20 years one has been issued for Europe.

The attacks could hit tourist sites, restaurants, commercial centers and transportation, the State Department warns, with large events such as Euro 2016 singled out.

The warning also cites the Tour de France cycle race and the Catholic Church’s Youth Day in Krakow, Poland, which is expected to draw up to 2.5 million visitors. An unnamed US official told Reuters they had no particular threat information that gave rise to the latest alert.

France’s state of emergency was extended to include the tournament and it also plans to deploy anti-drone technology as another precaution. More than 90,000 police, soldiers and private security agents are being deployed as well.

Financialtribune.com