MOSCOW — A French man apparently angered by the surge of Muslim migrants into Europe has been arrested trying to smuggle explosives and firearms for possible use in attacks during a major soccer tournament in France, officials in Ukraine said Monday.
The man, who was not immediately identified by Ukraine officials, was arrested at a border crossing from Ukraine to Poland last month, said the chief of Ukraine’s SBU security services, Vasily Hrytsak.
Ukraine’s intelligence agency said the man plotted the attacks as a “sign of protest” against the mass migration of foreigners into France and the growing number of Muslims living in the country. In the past year, more than 1 million asylum seekers have entered Europe from places including war-battered Syria and Iraq.
Mr. Hrytsak described the suspect as motivated by “ultra-nationalist” views and said he had planned attacks against 15 targets including a mosque, a synagogue and infrastructure in France during this month’s UEFA Euro 2016 soccer championship.
Security has been sharply increased for the soccer tournament, which will be held in stadiums across France.
The matches begin Friday at Paris’ Stade de France, where Islamic State terrorists detonated suicide bombs outside a soccer match Nov. 13. A series of coordinated attacks that night across Paris claimed 130 lives.
Thousands of heavily armed soldiers will be deployed to provide security at popular tourist attractions and religious sites.
The arrest was first reported Saturday by the French TV network M6info, which identified the man as Gregoire M., 25, and said he was from France’s Lorraine region.
On Monday, Ukraine’s SBU confirmed the arrest and released photographs and video of the man.
According to the security agency, the man had amassed five Kalashnikov rifles, more than 5,000 cartridges, two rocket-propelled grenades, more than 275 pounds of dynamite and 20 balaclavas.
The intelligence agency said the suspect entered Ukraine in December, contacted armed groups fighting in southeast Ukraine and sought to purchase weapons to bring back to France.
Mr. Hrytsak said the agency monitored the man as he purchased the weapons and then detained him as he attempted to leave Ukraine. He was arrested on terrorism, smuggling and weapons charges.
The Euro soccer tournament presents French authorities with a significant challenge. They must ensure security at sporting venues in 10 cities, as well as at train stations and other transportation hubs.
Security will be especially heavy at the “fan zone,” an enclosure of nearly 130,000 square yards at the base of the Eiffel Tower in which fans can gather and watch the games for free on large screens.
Approximately 92,000 fans are expected to turn out in the fan zone, Jean-Francois Martins, who is in charge of tourism and sport for the French capital as an assistant to Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, said in an interview.
First Published: June 7, 2016, 4:16 a.m.
