Monday, May 23, 2016

2016 Euro Cup : Stadium security ‘failures’ cast shadow over Euro 2016 football tournament

A French police chief has admitted security “broke down” during a football match at Stade de France on Saturday, the main venue for the forthcoming Euro 2016, raising concerns about France’s ability to protect fans during the month-long tournament.

Despite reinforcements, police and security staff were overwhelmed by rowdy hooligans before and during Saturday’s Coupe de France final between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Olympique de Marseille. It was an embarrassing acknowledgement for organisers who billed the match as a security “dress rehearsal” only three weeks ahead of the continental football cup.

“We have to admit that when the [security] system is under pressure, and that was certainly the case on Saturday evening, it broke down in a certain amount of places,” Philippe Galli, a police chief who oversees the Saint-Denis region where the Stade de France is located, told Europe 1 radio.

Galli said that security personnel were unable to handle Saturday’s “exceptionally” large crowd, especially at the exit of the RER B rail line, with many fans eluding security pat-downs and some illicit objects – including flares – sent over a two-metre high wall erected around the stadium.

Stade de France, located just north of Paris, will host the Euro 2016’s opening match between France and Romania on June 10, as well as the final on July 10.

The giant venue was one of the targets of the deadly November 13 terrorist attacks. Two of the assailants attempted to enter the stadium during the friendly match between France and Germany. Turned away by security agents at different entrances, the pair triggered their explosives belts in the stadium’s perimeter, killing one bystander and injuring several others...
 =france24.com
23/5/16
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