Euro 2016 a potential target for ISIS, warns EU police chief as US officials ask citizens to be vigilant on holiday in Europe
French officials expecting 2.5m football fans to descend on popular tournament as well as 1.5m foreigners
ISIS extremists could target this summer’s Euro 2016 football tournament, according the head of the EU’s law enforcement agency.
French authorities have stepped up their security operation as Europol highlighted the event as a potential threat for the sick terrorists.
Director Rob Wainwright told Press Association that the measures taken by French police will help protect football fans at the month-long tournament.
He said: "I have no doubt that the Euros are on a potential target list for IS, for obvious reasons. That's a pretty obvious assumption. The threat is high, I think.
"The risk isn't necessarily high because, to counter-balance that threat, I see a huge amount of security preparations being taken by the French authorities, with extra police and military drafted in.
"We are dealing with a country a bit like Britain where they know how to do their security and they've learned a lot of lessons also from the attacks last November."
Wainwright understood that ISIS would want to attack at Euro 2016.
But, he said "it would be difficult for them to pull it off".
Wainwright’s fears come the day after the US government sent out a travel alert for any Americans travelling through Europe.
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US officials warned tourists of the terrorist risk on the continent.
The US State Department travel alert, which expires on August 31, said: "Euro Cup stadiums, fan zones, and unaffiliated entertainment venues broadcasting the tournaments in France and across Europe represent potential targets for terrorists, as do other large-scale sporting events and public gathering places throughout Europe."
US citizens were also advised to be extra vigilant while in France.
Wainwright said that it would be "difficult to get the threat down to zero".
French authorities have extended a state of emergency to cover the tournament, which runs from 10 June to 10 July.
The state of emergency will also extend to the famous Tour de France cycling race, which runs from 2 July to 24 July.
Over the course of the football tournament, an expected 2.5 million fans are expected to flock to watch the games.
French authorities are also anticipating 1.5 million foreign visitors to attend the sporting event.
UK police estimate that 500,000 British spectators will travel to France for the Euros.
In preparation for an ISIS-style attack, French police carried out a terror drill near the Stade de Lyon.
The stadium is set to host one of the semi-final matches.
It is thought that around half do not have tickets yet.
France has been on high alert since recent attacks in Paris and Brussels.
In November, 130 people were killed by ISIS extremists in attacks on bars, restaurants and the national stadium, the Stade de France.
32 people died in Brussels in March when suicide bombers targeted the airport and the Metro.
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