Thread: GERMAN SPY CHIEF: ISIS will target the Euro 2016 football tournament

GERMAN SPY CHIEF: ISIS will target the Euro 2016 football tournament

Paul Carrel, Reuters May 28, 2016, 10:48 AM

BERLIN (Reuters) - Islamic State militants have the Euro 2016 soccer tournament in their sights, though there is no concrete evidence at the moment of an attack being planned, the head of Germany's domestic intelligence agency has said.

The comments from Hans-Georg Maassen, head of Germany's Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, come after France's spy chief said IS militants are gearing up for a campaign of bomb attacks on large crowds in France.

France, where militants last year killed 130 people in coordinated assaults on cafes, bars, a soccer stadium, and a music hall across Paris, will host Euro 2016, which starts on June 10 and runs for a month at 10 stadiums across the country.

"We know that IS has the European Championship in its sights," Maassen told the Rheinische Post newspaper.

He said that while there was no hard evidence of an attack being planned, there was "quite a lot of background noise, an elevated number of indications" that IS, al Qaeda or its Syrian affiliate Nusra Front wanted to perpetrate attacks against Western targets.

About 2.5 million spectators are expected for 51 soccer matches involving 24 teams at Euro 2016. There will also be "fan zones" for crowds watching games on big screens in major cities.

GERMAN SPY CHIEF: ISIS will target the Euro 2016 football tournament

(Writing by Paul Carrel; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)

82 security workers hired for Euro 2016 are on terror watch list: Shocking discovery by French intelligence as fears grow of ISIS attack during event

Security bosses have screened 3,500 staff brought in to ensure fan safety

Of those screened, 82 are on French terror watch lists, it has been reported

French authorities have a security force of 90,000 during the tournament

By JULIAN ROBINSON FOR MAILONLINE PUBLISHED: 08:15 GMT, 6 June 2016 | UPDATED: 09:25 GMT, 6 June 2016

Up to 82 workers hired to bolster security at Euro 2016 are on French terror watch lists, it has been claimed, as fears grow of an ISIS attack during the event.

French intelligence chiefs have screened 3,500 staff brought in to ensure the safety of fans at the tournament, which begins on Friday when host nation France takes on Romania.

The 82 people highlighted on watch lists could 'by definition' either belong to a terror group or have a background of 'questionable behaviour or extreme beliefs on either the left or right', it has been reported.


A security guard looks at the Euro 2016 fan zone, under construction on the Champs de Mars in Paris


French forensic officers take part in a mock terror attack drill outside the Stade des Lumieres,
near Lyon earlier this week. The drill saw the officers looking over a fake crime scene that included
dismembered bodies

French publication Le Point revealed the 3,500 recruits were screened by French intelligence agency the Directorate General of Internal Security, RT reports.

It comes after the head of the EU's law enforcement agency warned there is a 'high threat' of an ISIS terror attack at Euro 2016.

Europol director Rob Wainwright said last week he had 'no doubt' the football tournament would be a target for the terror group.

The U.S. government had earlier issued a travel alert to Americans, warning of the risk of potential attacks throughout Europe.

The State Department singled out the tournament, which will be held in France from June 10 to July 10.

Mr Wainwright, from Wales, said: 'I have no doubt that the Euros are on a potential target list for ISIS, for obvious reasons.

'That's a pretty obvious assumption. The threat is high, I think.'

But he said the the risk is 'not necessarily high' given the massive security operation set to be mounted by the French authorities.

Euro 2016 will take place amid an atmosphere of high alert following atrocities in Paris and Brussels.


French Police forces take part in a mock attack drill outside the Grand Stade stadium in Decines, near Lyon

Last November, 130 people were killed when terrorists launched co-ordinated attacks on the French capital, targeting bars, restaurants and the national stadium, the Stade de France.

Then in March, 32 people died when Brussels was hit by suicide bombings at the airport and on the Metro.

French authorities have extended a state of emergency until the end of the tournament, as well as the Tour de France cycling race, which will be held from July 2 to July 24.

Some 2.5 million football fans are expected in stadiums, including 1.5 million foreign visitors.

Yesterday, French President Francois Hollande said that the threat of extremism won't stop the European Championships from being successful.

Hollande said in an interview on Sunday with France Inter radio that precautionary measures throughout the matches, including a 90,000-strong security force, will ensure the matches scattered in 10 French cities are safe.

Hollande said France decided to go ahead with Euro 2016 despite two waves of attacks last year, and make it a 'festival for people and for sports.'

But he said that spectators at the month-long tournament must accept security checks as they enter stadiums and fan zones.

Hollande added that 'this threat, alas, will exist for a long time so we must guarantee this great event ... is successful. It will be.'

82 security workers hired for Euro 2016 are on terror watch list: Shocking discovery by French intelligence as fears grow of ISIS attack during event

France to launch smartphone ‘terror alert’ app

by Agence France-Presse June 8, 2016

A new smartphone app designed to alert users to possible terror attacks will be launched by the French government Wednesday, amid growing security concerns over the Euro 2016 football tournament.

The application, which will be free to download in both French and English, will send users a warning “in case of a suspected attack,” said the interior ministry, which has piloted and introduced the service.

It will also alert users — who must agree to be geolocated — about “unexpected events” such as the breaching of flood defences.

Alerts will appear on the app less than 15 minutes after the incident has been confirmed by authorities, and will be customised according to user’s exact location.

App users will also be able monitor alerts for up to eight different geographical zones, allowing them to check on family members or friends.

It will also provide advice on how to stay safe, with information tailored to each particular situation, the ministry added.

The idea emerged after the November 2015 terror attacks in Paris, with Prime Minister Manuel Valls pushing for it to be launched in time for Euro 2016.

The government hopes the app will help users — or app “ambassadors” as it calls them — spread reliable, official information about the security situation across social media.

This could help prevent France’s emergency services hotlines from becoming overwhelmed, said Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, adding the app would “keep the public up to date with what we know.”

Authorities have pledged to protect the privacy of users.

The launch comes a day after Britain warned that stadiums and fan zones could be targeted during Euro 2016.

France launches 'terror alert' app over security concerns at Euro 2016

France to launch smartphone ?terror alert? app | mb.com.ph | Philippine News

Border invasion alert
Terror alert
Rape alert
Disease alert
Murder alert
Riot alert
Theft alert
Stabbing alert

Tax increase alert!!!

Send them all back, this is bullshit!