Daesh planning to hit France during soccer event: Intel chief

The head of France’s internal intelligence agency has warned that Daesh terrorists plan to carry out a series of bomb attacks in the country during next month’s Euro 2016 soccer championships.

“We know that Daesh is planning new attacks, using fighters in the area, taking routes which facilitate access to our territory, and that France is clearly targeted,” said the Chief of the General Directorate for Internal Security, Patrick Calvar.

According to Press TV, he made the remarks at a hearing before a parliamentary committee on national defense on May 10, a report on which was made public on Wednesday.

The terrorist group is planning to plant “explosive devices” in places where large crowds of people will gather during the upcoming soccer championships, Calvar said.

The soccer event will start on June 10 and run for a month at 10 stadiums across France. The country expects more than two million people to visit for the event.

The rare comments by Calvar come six months after attacks in and around Paris, including at a soccer stadium, claimed the lives of some 130 people. The November 13, 2015 raids were claimed by Daesh.

The French spy chief further said that the new attacks will most likely be launched by French citizens or residents who are currently in Syria and Iraq, where militant campaign are underway against central governments.

ME