U.S. State Department warns of Euro 2016 terror threat

The U.S. State Department has released an eight-page document highlighting this summer's European Championships in France as a potential target for terrorism.

Paris was subject to horrific attacks in November 2015, when 130 people were killed across the city in various shootings and bombings. One targeted venue was the Stade de France, where the national side was playing Germany, but the report does state that "entertainment venues" such as bars and restaurants are among those more likely to be targeted by terrorists.

France remains in a state of emergency after those dreadful acts last year.

The report compiled by America's Overseas Security Advisory Council reads: "The influx of visitors to France during the summer months, especially during the Euro Cup, will create an especially target-rich environment for threat actors wishing to attack soft-target locations with maximum impact.

"While Euro Cup fan zones will possibly be more vulnerable, the level of security that will be enacted around these areas will to some degree mitigate the vulnerability against these sites.

"Consequently, terrorist plots aimed at disrupting the Euro Cup may be directed against soft-target locations outside of the Euro Cup venues and fan zones."

Euro 2016 commences when host France takes on Romania on June 10, but it's the following day which sees a fixture picked out in the document as a high-risk affair. Matches between England and Russia have seen clashes between rival fans, and passports have been revoked in an effort to rid the game in Marseille of some of the most ferocious "fans." It may not be enough, though.

"Some countries temporarily revoke passports for fans with a history of hooliganism abroad, as England did for some 3,000 fans during the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, and nearly 1,500 during the 2014 World Cup," the report continues. "The number for Euro 2016 is reportedly only in the low hundreds at this time."

A minority watching England in Marseille at the 1998 World Cup famously rioted after beating Tunisia in the country's opening group game of the tournament.