PARIS: Next year’s European Championship finals will be staged as planned in France next June and July despite security concerns after the Paris terror attacks writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

Jacques Lambert, president of the organising committee of Euro 2016, said that a postponement or venue shift was out of the question.

“To consider the cancellation of Euro 2016 would be to reward the terrorists,” he said.

“The level of risk has been raised but there is no reason why the situation affects the anti-terrorism plan for Euro 2016. We will take all the necessary decisions so that Euro 2016 can go ahead in the most effective conditions. Stadium security works well, the risk is on the street, at spontaneous gatherings.”

Security sources indicated that the explosions outside the Stade de France, before Friday’s game between France and Germany, were ‘premature’. It is believed the terrorists had intended to detonate their suicide belts inside the stadium during the game.

The draw for the finals of Euro 2016 is due to be staged in Paris on Saturday, December 12.

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