France to extend state of emergency to cover soccer tournament

Ben Bassey 10:02 - 20 April 2016

France to extend state of emergency to cover euro 2016 soccer tournament

"The state of emergency cannot be permanent but on the occasion of these big events... we have decided to prolong."

France plans to extend the state of emergency put in place after the Nov. 2015 militant Islamist attacks on Paris for a further two months to ensure security at the Euro 2016 soccer tournament, Prime Minister Manuel Valls said on Wednesday.

"Faced with an event this big... which must take place in conditions of security and which at the same time should be a celebration.... we have to ensure security," he said on France Info radio.

The current state of emergency giving extra powers to police and security forces runs until May 26. The month-long Euro 2016 soccer tournament hosted by France starts on June 10.