Ukrainian security agencies announced today the arrest of a French man who was plotting 15 terrorist attacks before and during Euro 2016.

French police participate in a simulated assault outside the Grand Stade stadium in Decines, near Lyon, France, on May 30. Photo: Reuters.

AFP quoted Vasyl Grytsak, director of Ukraine's National Security Service (SBU), as saying that the arrested man, a French citizen, was plotting to blow up "a mosque, a synagogue, tax collection offices, a police patrol unit and many other locations."

According to Grytsak, this person had "5 Kalashnikovs, over 5,000 rounds of ammunition, two anti-tank grenade launchers, 125 kg of TNT explosives, 100 detonators, 20 face shields, and other items."

"He planned to carry out 15 terrorist attacks," Grytsak said. He had contacted Ukrainian armed groups to purchase weapons and explosives.

The arrests occurred just before the month-long European Football Championship (Euro 2016) began in Paris on June 10th. Euro 2016 featured the continent's strongest teams and attracted hundreds of thousands of fans. The tournament was expected to draw around two million spectators to cities across France.

The U.S. State Department warned its citizens last week about the risk of terrorist attacks during Euro 2016.

According to VNE