Loud controlled explosion rocks Stade de France area before Euro quarter final (VIDEO)
A controlled explosion was reportedly carried out by French authorities just hours before the national team was set to take on Iceland in the quarter-finals of the European Championships.
The sound of the loud explosion could be heard as soccer fans made their way towards the 80,000 seater stadium in Paris.
VIDEO | La explosión que sucedió a las afueras del Stade de France.
— Mister Futbol (@Mister_Futbol_) July 3, 2016
Al parecer hay un carro sospechoso
TERRIBLE. pic.twitter.com/qkdhXxUavU
@SimoneRovera voici la zone exacte de l'opération pic.twitter.com/Nw4PNRKg7q
— Simone Rovera (@SimoneRovera) July 3, 2016
According to Le Parisien, police carried out a controlled explosion on a suspicious car parked near the stadium.
Halted outside the Stade de France. Suspect vehicle. Controlled explosion pending say police pic.twitter.com/fVuBEdojuI
— Paul Hayward (@_PaulHayward) July 3, 2016
Reports on social media suggest people have been prevented from approaching the area.
Blocked from getting into Stade de France because of security alert.Cops saying threat of 'explosion.'@scotsunsportpic.twitter.com/be7lujxma2
— Robert Grieve (@robert_grieve) June 27, 2016
It is not know why police targeted the vehicle, but the incident comes months after terrorists with links to Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) exploded suicide vests in the Saint-Denis area last November.
At that time, the French international soccer team was playing Germany in a friendly when three explosions rocked the Parisian suburb.
