More terror attacks in France are coming, says country's PM: Manuel Valls admits 'more innocents will lose their lives' as he reveals 15 major threats have been foiled since 2013 

  • Manuel Valls said intelligence services had stopped 15 attacks since 2013
  • But said it was waging non-stop battle to track down and prevent terrorists
  • He was speaking following the murders to two police officials near Paris who were murdered by a man who had pledged allegiance to ISIS
  • The country is also hosting the European Championships, with 90,000 soldiers and police officers patrolling stadiums and fan zones
  • The organisers of the tournament had promised 'unprecedented' levels of security but the start of the event has been marred by violence

By THOMAS BURROWS

Published: | Updated:

The French President has insisted the country is doing all it can to foil terror plots but admitted 'more innocents will lose their lives'.

Manuel Valls said the intelligence and police services had stopped 15 attacks since 2013 and were waging a non-stop battle to track down and prevent terrorists.

He was speaking following the murders of two police officials near Paris who were killed by a man who had pledged allegiance to ISIS.

The country is also hosting the European football Championships, with 90,000 soldiers and police officers patrolling stadiums and fan zones.

The organisers of the tournament had promised 'unprecedented' levels of security but the start of the event has been marred by violence and question marks over the lax security to enter stadiums, the lack of policing inside and the over-zealous tactics deployed by the heavy-handed French police.

Hooliganism has reared its ugly head with three days of violent clashes between Russian thugs, local French gangs and England supporters in the Old Port district of Marseille. 

Jean-Baptiste Salvaing
Jessica Schneider

Jean-Baptiste Salvaing (left) was killed first before the killer turned on his partner Jessica Schneider (right)

Pledged allegiance to ISIS: The stabbing of a married police couple in a Paris suburb earlier this week by 25-year-old Larossi Abballa (pictured) has revived French concerns about the ISIS threat

The killer was 25-year-old Larossi Abballa (pictured), who grew up in Mantes-la-Jolie and had a criminal record dating back to 2011

Speaking on French Inter radio, Mr Valls said: 'We need to tighten the net and give police and intelligence services all the means they need, but we will witness further attacks. More innocents will lose their lives.'  

French President Francois Hollande has called for security across the country to be beefed up, following the murders of the police officials.

Jessica Schneider and Jean-Baptiste Salvaing were killed by Larossi Abballa, 25, on Monday night after he was the 'last man' to leave prayers at a nearby mosque.

He repeatedly knifed the plain clothed 42-year-old commander in the stomach outside his home.

He then barricaded himself inside the house in Magnanville, a suburb some 40 miles west of Paris, taking the policeman's partner and three-year-old son hostage. 

Security forces patrol in and around the gare de Marseille-Saint Charles train station for Euro 2016. 

Security forces patrol in and around the gare de Marseille-Saint Charles train station for Euro 2016

The Foreign Office has warned that stadiums, bars and fan zones showing the matches could be targets for terror attacks. Pictured are police during an England training session at Stade de Bourgognes, Chantilly

The Foreign Office has warned that stadiums, bars and fan zones showing the matches could be targets for terror attacks. Pictured are police during an England training session at Stade de Bourgognes, Chantilly

He then knifed the commander's 36-year-old partner in the neck, before taking the couple's three-year-old child hostage and posting a message on Facebook Live.

He called on supporters to attack to attack police, journalists, public figures, prison guards and rappers and to 'turn the Euro [football tournament] into a graveyard.'  

And, chillingly, he also added: 'I don't know what I'm going to do with the boy.'

Police stormed the house and killed the attacker. They rescued the couple's son who was alive but in a state of 'total shock'. He was taken to a children's hospital. 

Manuel Valls said the intelligence and police services had stopped 15 attacks since 2013 and were waging a non-stop battle to track down and prevent terrorists

Manuel Valls said the intelligence and police services had stopped 15 attacks since 2013 and were waging a non-stop battle to track down and prevent terrorists

Police officers have been targets of terrorists in France before – six police and military personnel have been killed in jihadist attacks in the last four years.

But targeting an off-duty police staff at their home was a new tactic by the murderous organisation.

Earlier this year, a decree allowed French police officers to carry their service weapons with them outside work hours during the state of emergency, which has been in place since November and is currently set to last until the end of the Tour de France and Euro 2016 in July.

A memorial ceremony is planned for the couple today in Manganville.

  

  

  

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