Terrorism is still a problem in Europe and it looks like the European Football Championship (Euro 2016) in France is a real target for the terrorists.

The championship’s opening match between hosts France and Romania, as well as the final, could be targeted by terrorist attacks, according to a report of the Federal Criminal Police Office in Germany (Bundeskriminalamt - BKA), cited by German newspaper Bild, reports local Mediafax.

The terrorist threat would be valid for the entire championship to be organized in France between June 10 and July 10, not only these two matches. However, the risk is higher for the opening match and the final due to the higher media exposure.

The opening match between Romania and France will take place on June 10, at the Stade de France stadium in Paris, one of the places targeted by the terrorist attacks that took place in Paris last November.

“Symbolic and easy targets that receive a lot of attention from the media and automatically attract a large number of victims” are subject to terrorist risk, according to the BKA report. Moreover, due to its colonial history and the military operations launched against the Islamic State, France remains a primary target for the terrorists.

UEFA plans to send at least 10,000 additional private security guards at the football championship so that 900 security guards can ensure order at every game.

The opening match between Romania and France is scheduled for June 10, at 22:00 CET. Next, the Romanians will play against Switzerland on June 15 and against Albania on June 19.

Romania chooses official slogan for the Euro 2016

Who will broadcast Euro 2016 matches in Romania?

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com