Security fears, strikes cloud French Euro 2016 buildup

Europe’s four-yearly football extravaganza is taking place just seven months after jihadists killed 130 people in the French capital and there are fears the tournament could be a target for more terror attacks.

Germany defender Jerome Boateng became the first high-profile player to say he was banning his family from coming to the stadiums for the tournament because he was concerned for their safety.

The French government launched a free smartphone app in French and English which will warn visitors of any “major crisis”, including suspected attacks.

The immediate concern though was the industrial unrest and political turmoil over controversial labour reforms that look set to continue into the championships despite the government’s pleas for unions to halt their action.

In the latest of four months of strikes, union supporters blockaded incineration centres in central Paris, causing uncollected rubbish to pile up in 10 of the capital’s 20 districts.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo called for an end to the strike action and promised to get the rubbish collected as soon as possible. “We are redeploying staff to sort out the situation where it’s most critical on Thursday,” Hidalgo said.

Rail workers locked in one of the most obstinate strikes said they would continue to disrupt services on Friday, extending their action to a ninth day in Paris and several other regions.