Man who ‘plotted attacks on synagogues in Paris to coincide with European Championship’ arrested in Ukraine

THE JEWISH CHRONICLE – A man has been detained in Ukraine for allegedly planning attacks on Jewish places of worship in France on the eve of the Euro 2016 championship.

The French citizen was detained on Saturday by Ukraine’s state security service, the SBU.

SBU chief Vasily Gritsak said the man had made contact with armed groups in Ukraine and had been arrested with an arsenal of weapons and explosives including rocket launchers and Kalashnikovs.

Mr Gritsak said that the 25-year-old’s intended targets were Jewish and Muslim places of worship, as well as buildings associated with the football tournament and certain French government buildings.

“The SBU was able to prevent a series of 15 acts of terror [planned] for the eve and during the Euro soccer championship,” he said.

“The Frenchman spoke negatively about his government’s actions,” Mr Gritsak continuesd, “mass immigration, the spread of Islam and globalisation, and also talked about plans to carry out several terrorist attacks.”

However, French police are sceptical about the arrest, saying the suspect was unknown to them or the French intelligence services.