He buying weapons and explosives illegally in Ukraine, police revealed. The man was arrested in late May but it has only just emerged that police believe he was plotting attacks during the European Championships, which begin on Friday when France take on Romania.
"The head of Ukraine's State Security Service (SBU) Vasily Gritsak said: 'The Frenchman spoke negatively about his government's actions, mass immigration, the spread of Islam and globalization, and also talked about plans to carry out several terrorist attacks.'"
The SBU said in a statement on Monday that it had followed a French man since December and allowed him to purchase five machine guns, two rocket propelled grenades and other weapons before he was arrested on the Ukrainian-Polish border last month.
The agency did not identify the man but said he was driven by ultra-nationalist views and planned 15 attacks on bridges, railways and other pieces of infrastructure for Euro 2016 that will be held in France.
Euro 2016 will take place amid an atmosphere of high alert following atrocities in Paris and Brussels.
Last November, 130 people were killed when terrorists launched co-ordinated attacks on the French capital, targeting bars, restaurants and the national stadium, the Stade de France.
Then in March, 32 people died when Brussels was hit by suicide bombings at the airport and on the Metro.
Brussels Attacks
French authorities have extended a state of emergency until the end of the tournament, as well as the Tour de France cycling race, which will be held from July 2 to July 24.
Some 2.5 million football fans are expected in stadiums, including 1.5 million foreign visitors.
Yesterday, French President Francois Hollande said that the threat of extremism won't stop the European Championships from being successful.
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