England rugby fans warned as they face increased terror threat in crowds ahead of World Cup semi in France

The Foreign Office has warned Britons that because of the turmoil in the Middle East, the nation is on the highest alert level and they may need to flee.

The Foreign Office has alerted England rugby supporters attending Saturday’s World Cup semi-final in Paris to a heightened terror threat, potentially requiring them to flee congested areas immediately.

According to updated UK travel advice for France, due to the heightened state of alert, anyone attending big sporting events, tourist attractions, crowded places, and popular shopping districts may need to evacuate and may be subject to additional security checks.

Before the game, which is anticipated to draw tens of thousands of spectators, fans are urged to heed the directives of French police and other authorities.

The deadly stabbing of a teacher in Arras, in the northeast of the country, on October 13 prompted France to elevate its national terror threat classification to “Emergency Attack Level,” the highest status possible. Islamist terrorism has been connected to the attack.

Along with the US, the UK and other nations in the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe are also on guard against any fallout from the Israel-Hamas conflict, which has prompted protests outside US and Israeli embassies in a number of the region’s capitals.

A travel advisory has been issued to British citizens about Israel and Lebanon, citing the deteriorating security conditions in the Middle East.

In the rugby World Cup semifinals, England and South Africa are scheduled to meet at the Stade de France in Paris at 8:00 p.m. UK time.

Several locations, including the Bataclan theater massacre, were targeted in the November 2015 Paris attacks, which also included the stadium.

A separate terror assault in Brussels earlier this week claimed the lives of two Swedish football fans, just before the Belgium-Sweden Euro 2024 qualifier that night was called off.

The Foreign Office updated its travel advisory for France on Thursday, saying that “France has raised its national threat level to the highest level (‘Emergency Attack Level’) following a fatal attack in Arras, northern France on October 13, 2023.”

“Maximum vigilance and protection in the event of an imminent threat of a terrorist act or in the immediate aftermath of an attack” is how this threat level is defined.

It is possible to evacuate congested areas, such as airports, bus terminals, tourist attractions, stadiums, schools, houses of worship, and sizable shopping malls.

“Remain vigilant, be ready for increased security inspections, and heed local authorities’ advice.”