Ukraine intelligence officials have foiled a terror plot to attack Jewish and Muslim houses of worship during the UEFA Euro 2016 international soccer tournament in France.
A 25-year-old nationalist French terrorist, Gregoire M., was arrested Monday on Ukraine’s border with Poland by the country’s State Security Service (SBU).
Under interrogation the suspect revealed that he had acquired a massive arsenal with which to carry out some 15 planned attacks during the games.
SBU chief Vasyl Hrytsak told a news conference the suspect possessed guns, detonators and 125 kilos of TNT explosives with which to target mosques and synagogues.
“The Frenchman spoke negatively about his government’s actions, mass immigration, the spread of Islam and globalization, and also talked about plans to carry out several terrorist attacks,” Hrytsak told journalists.
He had made contact with illegal armed groups in Ukraine, according to the SBU chief, in order to purchase weapons and explosives.