Euro 2016 and Tour de France to take place under state of emergency

France plans to extend a state of emergency declared after the Paris terror attacks to cover the Euro 2016 football tournament and the Tour de France cycle race. Prime minister Manuel Valls said he wanted the measure to remain in force for another two months after it is due to run out in May. He said: “The state of emergency cannot be a permanent state but for these major events… we need to have these powers, these possibilities, under the control of a judge, under the control of parliament, to allow for the best response in the face of terrorism.”

We will propose to extend (the emergency) for a period of two additional months from the end of May in view of the threat

Prime minister Manuel Valls

The state of emergency, which gives the government heightened security powers, was imposed following the November 13 attacks which left 130 dead and hundreds wounded in the French capital. In February, it was extended by three months until May 26. The latest extension would cover the Euro 2016 tournament to be held in France from June 10 to July 10 and the Tour de France, which is set for July 2-24. Civil liberties groups have expressed concern over the extra powers, warning it could easily become permanent.

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