Less than a year after ISIS killed 130 people in a coordinated attack in Paris, Germany’s spy chief said he believes that ISIS will attempt to attack the 2016 Euro Cup in Paris.
Hans Georg-Maassen, whose formal title is head of Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, said he has “increased indications” that an attack will come during the Euro Cup, which begins June 10 and runs for about a month.
“We know that IS has the European Championship in its sights,” Maassen told the Rheinische Post newspaper.
Maaseen’s comments come following Patrick Calvar, France’s Spy Chief, saying that groups are planning a campaign of bombs on the large crowds in France.
“Clearly, France is the most threatened and we know that Daesh (Islamic State) is planning new attacks,” Calvar told the committee on May 10, according to a transcript of his testimony released to the media on Thursday.
ISIS was responsible for 130 deaths in France this past November. The deaths came as part of an attack that occurred at restaurants, cafés and the Bataclan Theatre.
About 2.5 million people are expected for the month-long tournament, which includes 51 matches at 10 different stadiums across France. There are also expected to be large crowds watching the games on big screens in many of the big European cities. Let’s hope nothing comes of this and the Euro Cup is a safe event for all.
