Lack of security at Euro 2016 Fan Zones slammed as “gift to ISIS”
Huge shortage of guards and cameras to leave football fans at high risk of terrorist attacks
FAN zones at Euro 2016 are suffering a massive shortage of security guards sparking fears they are unprepared against terrorists.
An estimated 10 million fans are expected to watch the games on big screens in “fan zones” in the host cities.
But figures reveal only 1,300 private security guards have been recruited which is well below the recommended guidelines of one guard to every 100 fans.
And organisers have also admitted that it has only FOUR security cameras to watch over 60,000 supporters at a fan park in Bordeaux where Wales are playing.
The shortage has been branded by French security experts as a “gift to ISIS”.
In Lens, where England and Wales play under a booze ban, the fan zone holds 10,000 supporters and has 100 security guards and 37 CCTV cameras.
Yesterday, we revealed followers of Islamic State terror mastermind Salah Abdeslam are plotting to attack England fans at the tournament.
Data found on a laptop belonging to the twisted terrorist outlines a plan to attack fans when England play Russia in Marseilles on June 11.
Gathering hundreds of thousands of people together every evening for a month is thoroughly irresponsible
David Douillet
Alain Bauer, President of CNAPS (National Council of Private security activities), the sector’s regulatory body, demanded the removal of fan zones because they did not have enough staff to cope.
He said: “I remain sceptical about the number of security guards on duty.
“The best rule is one officer for every 100 people. The Paris fan zone will accommodate 100,000 fans, so there should be 100 officers to secure the site.”
He said earlier this year: “I have not seen the emergence of staff magically since late 2015.”
Jean-Pierre Tripet, president of the National Union of security companies (SNES), said: “At Euro 2016 we will be at the breaking point.”
David Douillet, former French sports minister and ex-Judo star, said: “It’s a gift to ISIS.
“Gathering hundreds of thousands of people together every evening for a month is thoroughly irresponsible.”
Mr Douillet branded the 100,000 capacity Eiffel Tower fanzone was “too dangerous” because the recommended guard to fan ratio should be one to every 100.
Latest figures show there are just 350 security guards recruited.
Authorities have refused to reveal how many private security will be at the Marseille fan zone where England open the tournament against Russia.
The Saint Etienne zone, where England play Slovakia, holds 20,000 fans but has just 80 guards and 12 CCTV cameras.
Last week Patrick Calvar, France’s head of internal intelligence agency DGSI, said: “We risk being confronted with a new form of attack: a terrorist campaign characterised by leaving explosive devices in places where big crowds gather, multiplying this type of action to create a climate of panic.”
UEFA is providing 9,000 security guards for the stadiums on matchdays but the government is to police the fan zones.
We are doing everything to avoid a terrorist attack, and we are preparing to respond
Bernard Cazeneuve
Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said 77,000 police and paramilitary police will be deployed.
He said: “Our objective is for the Euros to be a big festive gathering, but we owe the French people the truth.
“Zero percent precaution means 100 percent risk, but 100 percent precaution does not mean a zero percent risk.
“We are doing everything to avoid a terrorist attack, and we are preparing to respond.”
France remains in a State of Emergency after the Charlie Hebdo attacks and co-ordinated assaults on the Bataclan Theatre and Stade de France in November last year.
UEFA is providing 9,000 security guards for the stadiums on matchdays but the government is to police the fan zones.
Millions of fans will be searched, screened and questioned by hundreds of police officers and private security guards in stadiums and fanzones.
Police snipers will be everywhere, along with sniffer dogs, while squads of CRS riot officers will stand by in armoured vans.
Elite special forces will also be on hand to deal with possible terrorist incidents.
French organisers went on a massive recruitment drive in the past six months and reduced the experience needed to become a security guard at fan zones.
In contrast, at London 2012 Olympics security organisers were contracted to recruit 13,700 security guards and had to call in the army after falling short by 3,500.
Facts and figures for each fan zone
Paris
Holds 100,000 fans
350 security guards
One security guard for every 285 fans
26 CCTV cameras
One camera for every 3,846 fans
Lille
Holds 25,000 fans
200 security
One security guard for every 125 fans
Refused to say how many CCTV
Lens
Holds 10,000 fans
75 - 100 security
One security guard for every 100 fans
37 CCTV cameras
One camera for every 270 fans
Lyon
Holds 20,000 fans
100 security
One security guard for every 200 fans
Eight CCTV cameras
One camera for every 2,500 fans
Saint Etienne
Holds 20,000 fans
80 security
One security guard for every 250 fans
12 CCTV cameras
One camera for every 1,666 fans
Nice
Holds 10,000 fans
124 security guards
One security guard for every 80 fans
18 CCTV cameras
One camera for every 555 fans
Marseilles
Holds 80,000 fans
Refused to divulge how many security guards
11 CCTV cameras
One camera for every 7,272 fans
Toulouse
Holds 11,500 fans
160 security guards
One security guard for every 72 fans
10 CCTV cameras
One camera for every 1,150 fans
Bordeaux
Holds 60,000 fans
200 security guards
One security guard for every 300 fans
Four CCTV cameras
One camera for every 15,000 fans
Saint Denis, Paris
No details released.
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