France ups security for Euro 2016 football championship

France pledged on Monday to deploy 3,000 additional police officers and reinforce security during the European football tournament Euro 2016, according to Paris police prefect Michel Cadot.

In addition to the 10,000 servicemen already serving in cities across the country, the 3,000 others would be deployed around the Ile-de-France region, which includes Paris and its suburbs, at the start of the one-month championship on June 10.

The figure could rise by mid-June to further ensure calm during the tournament, he said, due to the high terror risk "given the development of the conflicts in Syria and Iraq, given the position of France."

Earlier on Monday, Ukrainian officials said they had arrested a 25-year-old French man at its border with Poland who had been planning attacks to coincide with Euro 2016.

Reports said the presumed terror suspect was arrested with weapons including rocket launchers and Kalashinkov rifle.

At a daily e-press briefing, Romain Nadal, spokesman of the French foreign ministry, confirmed a French national had been arrested in Ukraine without giving further details.

Simultaneous shootings and suicide bombings rocked the French capital in November 2015, claiming 130 lives. It was France's worst terror assault.

The Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was a response to France's military operation in Iraq and Syria.

French President Francois Hollande told France Inter Radio on Sunday terrorism was "a threat that exists, and I wouldn't be in this position as president if I didn't tell you very clearly that there is a threat. It's a threat that will be around for a long time."

As such, he said, "we must take every precaution to ensure this tournament, the Euro 2016 will be a success." Endit