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French police chief wants Euro 2016 Eiffel Tower fan zone shut amid terror fears
The chief of police in Paris has proposed that a fan zone in the heart of the capital be shut when Euro 2016 matches are played in the city's two stadiums.
The move would be a major blow to fans without tickets hoping to congregate beneath the iconic Eiffel Tower and at other landmark venues across France to watch games on giant screens.
Police chief Michel Cadot cited the "exhaustion" of overstretched officers and the threat of terrorism, in a letter to Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve seen by AFP.
Paris is one of nine cities hosting the month-long football tournament from June 10 and a fan zone at the foot of the Eiffel Tower is set to accommodate some 90,000 supporters during matches.
The French police fears came after the US State Department warned US travellers this week of the "risk of potential terrorist attacks throughout Europe, targeting major events".
Some 90,000 security staff, including police, army and private contractors will be deployed to protect the estimated 1m foreign visitors expected to come to France for the tournament that will be hosted in 10 venues across France.
The party atmosphere of the European championships has been dampened by security fears and months of often violent protests and transport strikes in France.
The country is already on high alert for possible terror attacks, and the gathering of tens of thousands of fans for the tournament is seen as a potential target.
In November, three suicide bombers blew themselves up outside of the national football stadium as part of a series of attacks on bars and restaurants in Paris.
In an earlier letter sent to Mr Cazeneuve, Mr Cadot also expressed concerns about other events during the championships, such as music festivals.
Former president and opposition chief Nicolas Sarkozy has called for the fan zones to be closed.
"We have other things for our police to do, with the current risk, than keep a watch on fan zones," he said.
Prime Minister Manuel Valls has said fan zones should be maintained unless there was a specific threat.
The question mark over the fanzone is add to the anxious pre-tournament climate that has already been soured by a row over racism in the national squad which has set off a wider debate in the country.
Karim Benzema, who is of Algerian origin, was excluded from the team over a sex-tape scandal, but on Wednesday accused coach Didier Deschamps of bowing to pressure from a "racist part" of France.