TerrorismEuro 2016’s fan zones focus of security concerns
Ten large fan zones in the center of ten French cities, set up to allow more fans to watch the Euro 2016 soccer games on giant outdoor screens, are the focus of security concerns. The tournament, which starts in France on Friday, is expected to draw more than ten million spectators from all over the world. “It as if we have created ten open-air Bataclans and invited the jihadists to do their worst,” one French security source said, referring to the Paris concert hall where ninety people were killed by jihadists on 13 November.
Ten large fan zones in the center of ten French cities, set up to allow more fans to watch the Euro 2016 soccer games on giant outdoor screens, are the focus of security concerns.
The tournament, which starts in France on Friday, is expected to draw more than ten million spectators from all over the world.
“It as if we have created ten open-air Bataclans and invited the jihadists to do their worst,” one French security source told theIndependent, referring tothe Paris concert hall where ninety people were killed by jihadists on 13 November.
The Mirror reports that the tournament organizers openly said that they considered doing away with the official fan zones, but that they could not find alternative viewing options for the tens of thousands of soccer fans who could not buy tickets to enter the stadiums.
Jacques Lambert, chairman of the Euro 2016 organizing committee, said: “Everyone asked themselves the question.
“After examining the pros and cons, the host cities, the government, and the organizing committee all decided the same thing. It was better to host the fans in a secure area rather than let them wander about all over the place. The fan-zones will have exactly the same security as the match venues.”
The tournament, which lasts from 10 June to 10 July, will see 80,000 French police and soldiers, augmented by 12,000 private security guards, deployed to protect both the stadiums and the fan-zones. The French authorities note that in the last two weeks, French security agencies have conducted thirty elaborate simulations of terrorist assaults on stadia and fan zones.
The simulations have included not only suicide bombings and random gun attacks on crowds, but also chemical weapon attacks and terrorist attacks using explosive-laden drones and small aircraft.
French officials are sober. “Even 100 per cent precaution cannot mean zero per cent risk,” said the interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve.
Programmers working for the French authorities have developed a terror alert app which would warn soccer fans in the event of terrorist attacks. The app, available for free in English and French, will alert fans of an actual or imminent attack and provide information on to seek shelter or aid (see “France unveils app to alert people to terror attacks,” HSNW, 8 June 2016).
The Mirror notes that each fan zone can accommodate up to 90,000 fans – and each of the fans heading toward the zone will have to pass through six security gates.
The French authorities have advised fans that if they do not want to miss the games, they should show up at the gates to the stadiums or the fan zones at least three hours before the games begin.
The fan zone in Marseille is facing special security challenges, as it is located on the Prado beach on the southern edge of the city, near the Stade Velodrome football stadium. The security measures there include police launches and helicopters off shore. Moreover, swimming has been banned from 7:00p.m. until 5:00a.m. on match days.
