Euro 2016: 'Terror plot' foiled by Ukrainian authorities
French 'ultra-nationalist' allegedly planned up to 15 attacks on buildings, bridges and railways

Ukrainian authorities claim to have thwarted a series of terror attacks planned to coincide with the Euro 2016 football championships starting in France this week.
Vasyl Grytsak, the head of Ukraine's state security service (SBU), told state television that a French "ultra-nationalist" detained on the Ukrainian-Polish border late last month had been planning up to 15 attacks on targets including Jewish and Muslim places of worship, French government administration buildings, bridges, railways and other infrastructure.
Grytsak said the individual, identified as Gregoire Moutaux, had been under surveillance since December and was arrested as part of a sting operation trying to smuggle weapons including rocket propelled grenades, machine guns and explosives into the European Union.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"[He] talked negatively about his government's actions, mass immigration, the spread of Islam and globalisation," said Grytsak.
Investigators also raided Moutaux's house near Nancy in Eastern France, where they found Neo-Nazi T-shirts as well as chemicals used to produce explosives and five balaclavas, says the Daily Mail.
It is understood that Ukraine's security forces had initially planned to keep the investigation a secret until after the tournament, "but decided to go public after reports in international media", says The Guardian.
Extremist attacks have become a "major concern" for French authorities as they prepare to host the month-long tournament, adds the newspaper.
Last week, the US State Department issued a travel warning to Americans planning to visit Europe, urging them to "exercise vigilance" and "avoid crowded places".
French special forces and emergency teams have carried out several practice runs for dealing with an attack during the tournament.
British police will also be stationed at Eurostar terminals and on some cross-channel trains "to prevent trouble and to stop known troublemakers from travelling to the tournament", reports Sky News.
Despite these precautions, British fans will face an "unprecedented security threat" when travelling to France, says the Mail. More than 500,000 are expected to make the trip.
French police have warned that England's opening match against Russia on Saturday in Marseille was "a particularly high risk" after a plot by Islamic State terrorists to target fans was discovered on the computer of one of the attackers responsible for November's Paris attack.
French authorities have extended the state of emergency introduced following last year's atrocities.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
ICE agents take down Lady Justice | June 21 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Saturday’s political cartoons include ICE, Donald Trump as a lion tamer, and ordering from the Bible
-
5 editorial cartoons about ICE raids
Cartoons Political cartoonists take on ICE raids, harvesting Big Macs for Donald Trump, and what to do when Stephen Miller shows up at the front door
-
Grilled radicchio with caper and anchovy sauce recipe
The Week Recommends Smoky twist on classic Italian flavours is perfect to grill, drizzle and devour
-
Why are military experts so interested in Ukraine's drone attack?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION The Zelenskyy government's massive surprise assault on Russian airfields was a decisive tactical victory — could it also be the start of a new era in autonomous warfare?
-
Ukraine hits Russia's bomber fleet in stealth drone attack
speed read The operation, which destroyed dozens of warplanes, is the 'biggest blow of the war against Moscow's long-range bomber fleet'
-
The France-Indonesia push for an Israeli-Palestinian two-state solution
Talking Points Both countries have said a two-state solution is the way to end the Middle East conflict
-
Putin talks nukes as Kyiv slated for US air defenses
speed read 'I hope they will not be required,' Putin said of nuclear weapons on Russian state TV
-
US, Ukraine sign joint minerals deal
speed read The Trump administration signed a deal with Ukraine giving the US access to its mineral wealth
-
Ukraine-US minerals deal: is Trump turning away from Putin?
Today's Big Question US shows 'exasperation' with Russia and signs agreement with Ukraine in what could be a significant shift in the search for peace
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Dozens dead in Kashmir as terrorists target tourists
Speed Read Visitors were taking pictures and riding ponies in a popular mountain town when assailants open fired, killing at least 26