'Euro 2016 terror attack thwarted' says Ukraine intelligence agency

Several planned terror attacks during the Euro 2016 tournament in France have been thwarted, according to a Ukrainian security chief.

The head of the state's security services said a Frenchman was detained in the country after making contact with illegal armed groups to buy guns and explosives.

It is claimed that he intended to target Muslim and Jewish places of worship in France, plus administrative buildings and infrastructure such as bridges and railways.

Vasily Gritsak said the unnamed man was arrested in late May on the border with Poland, carrying 125kg of TNT.

The suspect had been tailed since December, Mr Gritsak said, and was seen buying five machine guns, two rocket-propelled grenades, and other weapons.

At a news conference he said: "The Frenchman spoke negatively about his government's actions, mass immigration, the spread of Islam and globalisation, and also talked about plans to carry out several terrorist attacks."

Last week the US State Department issued a "potential terrorist attacks" warning for Americans planning to travel to Europe.

The travel alert, which expires on 31 August, made no mention of specific threats to Euro 2016 matches or other events, but warned US citizens to "exercise vigilance" and "avoid crowded places".

France's national stadium, the Stade de France, was one site targeted during the 13 November Paris attacks that left 130 people dead.