PARIS: A new smartphone app to alert users to possible terror attacks was launched by the French government on Wednesday in time for the start of Euro 2016, amid growing security concerns over the tournament.

The application, which is free to download in both French and English, will send users a warning “in case of a suspected attack,” said the interior ministry, which has piloted and introduced the service.

It will also alert users — who must agree to be geolocated — about “unexpected events” such as the breaching of flood defences. Alerts will appear on the app less than 15 minutes after the incident has been confirmed by authorities, and will be customised according to the user’s exact location.

The government said the app was developed after November’s attacks in Paris — including on the main stadium — which killed 130 people. On Tuesday, Britain warned fans going to France for the football championships there was a “high threat from terrorism” and that stadiums, fan zones and transport hubs were potential targets.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2016