Euro 2016 security 'failures' to be addressed, France interior minister pledges

By AFP

Image: Security staff control supporters arriving at the Stade de France ahead of the Coupe de France final

France's interior minister has promised that security "failures" at the Stade de France will be put right before Euro 2016.

Bernard Cazeneuve said "the movement of spectators" would be improved and searches increased for the tournament, which kicks off at the stadium in less than three weeks.

His pledge came after police were overwhelmed by a surging crowd ahead of Saturday's Coupe de France final between Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille, as fans pushed through one of the gates in a new stadium security fence.

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Despite body searches of all 80,000 fans who entered the stadium, smoke bombs were set off inside and lengths of plastic piping and motorbike helmets were also found.

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Police said a large crowd of spectators outside the new two-metre-high fence surged through one of the gates.

"Failures have been noted," Cazeneuve said after a meeting of officials from the French Football Federation and the local organisers of Euro 2016.

The Stade de France in Paris was one of the targets in November's terrorist attacks.

The stadium will host both the opening match of Euro 2016, between France and Romania on June 10, and the final on July 10.