Ahead of Friday’s commencement of UEFA Euro 2016 championship, France, the host nation, has continued to tighten security across the country to check terror attacks.
An investigation by the Europe Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) revealed heavy presence of policemen and bomb detectors at all the venues of the 51 matches to be played during the tournament.
A source at UEFA told NAN that 90,000 policemen were deployed to the match venues.
According to the source, the number includes 77,000 police, gendarmes and riot control officers, alongside 13,000 private security agents and 1,000 volunteers.
In the same vein, 10,000 soldiers had already been stationed across cities as part of the anti-terrorism measures.
The soldiers are also expected to protect sites and other important places during the one month championship.
The security measures were also extended to ”Fan Zones” where crowds would be watching the games on large TV screens in major cities.
According to French authorities, no fewer than 2.5 million spectators are expected to watch the 51 matches involving 24 teams in games to be played at 10 stadiums across the country.
Recent terrorist attacks in France had put the nation on spotlight after hundreds were killed in 2015 in the Stade de France attack and Charlie Hebdo shooting, among others.
The UEFA Euro 2016 championship holds from June 10 to July 10.
Host nation, France, will play against Romania in the opening match. (NAN)