Frenchman held in Ukraine ‘planned Euro 2016 attacks’

The Frenchman had intended to blow up a Muslim mosque, a synagogue, and police patrol units, according to Ukraine's security service chief.

A still image showing the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) detaining an unidentified Frenchman at an unspecified location. The SBU said on June 6, 2016 that the detained man was reportedly planning Show more

PARIS // Ukraine said on Monday it had arrested a suspected far-right French extremist with a huge arsenal of weapons who allegedly planned to attack the European Championships in France this week.

The announcement came as French rail unions held make-or-break talks with employers on Monday to try to end a six-day strike that threatened to disrupt the football championships clouded by security fears.

Ukraine’s SBU security service chief Vasyl Grytsak said the unidentified Frenchman intended to blow up “a Muslim mosque, a synagogue, tax collection organisations, police patrol units and numerous other locations”.

He planned to conduct 15 strikes, Mr Grytsak said. “He obtained five Kalashnikov rifles, more than 5,000 bullets, two anti-tank grenade launchers, 125 kilos of TNT, 100 detonators, 20 balaclavas and other things.”

The arrest was made on May 21 when the man was trying to cross into Poland near the Ukrainian frontier town of Yagodyn.

It was not clear whether the Frenchman was associated with any terror cell or was operating on his own.

France is struggling with the impact of the rail strike, which combined with heavy flooding in Paris and other parts of the country to leave train services severely affected on Monday.

Unions said the offer on the table from state-run rail operator SNCF was “not up to the mark”.

The government was trying to reach agreements with unions in disputes that have dogged France for weeks, before the host nation kicks off Euro 2016 against Romania in Paris on Friday.

About 1.5 million visitors were expected for the one-month championship.

President Francois Hollande warned rail workers and pilots from Air France, who are threatening to strike this month, would receive little sympathy if they spoiled the experience of spectators attending one of the world’s biggest sporting events.

“No one would understand if the trains or the planes prevented the smooth functioning and affected the transport of spectators,” Mr Hollande said.

A day earlier, Mr Hollande acknowledged there was a threat of an attack during the June 10-July 10 competition but promised to “do everything to ensure that the Euro 2016 is a success.”

* Agence France-Presse