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France deploying anti-drone technology to protect Euro 2016

Ziad Khoury, the security director for the Euro 2016 soccer championships, works in his office after responding to questions during an Associated Press interview, Tuesday, May 17, 2016 in Paris. Khoury said anti-drone technology would be deployed over stadiums as part of the security measures to protect the tournament. (AP Photo/John Leicester) Ziad Khoury, the security director for the Euro 2016 soccer championships, works in his office after responding to questions during an Associated Press interview, Tuesday, May 17, 2016 in Paris. Khoury said anti-drone technology would be deployed over stadiums as part of the security measures to protect the tournament. (AP Photo/John Leicester)

By Associated Press May 17, 2016 1 min read

PARIS (AP) – The security chief for the European Championship tells The Associated Press that France will deploy anti-drone technology that will interfere with and take control of any flying machines that violate no-fly zones over stadiums.

Ziad Khoury says no-fly zones will be declared over all 10 stadiums as well as training grounds for the 24 teams at next month’s tournament.

He says the technology will be deployed at most of the 51 matches and will “interfere with drones and take control of them if they are spotted.”

French authorities have reportedly trained for the possibility of drones being used to disperse chemical or biological weapons over crowds.

Khoury described the technology as a “dissuasive measure that didn’t exist at previous sports events.”