How does it work?
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Phones with the app will not vibrate or beep to avoid putting people hiding during a terror attack at risk.
A French policeman patrols at the Euro 2016 fan zone near the Eiffel Tower in Paris yesterday. Its objective: to alert fans of any terrorist attack that might happen and how to stay safe.
The latest version of the app also offers emergency details, apart from floods, industrial attacks and a few others. It can send alerts to users’ phones less than 15 minutes after an incident is confirmed, tailoring information to the user’s specific geographical location.
Around seven million football fans from across Europe are expected to travel to the 10 host cities across France to cheer their teams on from June 10 to July 10.
Users can also request alerts for up to eight geographic areas, including individual districts in the capital.
The original idea to develop a terror alert app emerged immediately after the attacks in Paris in November 2015, with Prime Minister Manuel Valls personally pushing for its release ahead of Euro 2016. Because it’s an official government project, users can rely on the app for information rather than turning to social media where potentially false information could spread.
Advice already on the app includes general tips on what to do in other emergencies, such as a nuclear alert, including “take cover in a closed building”, “do not pick up your children from school” and “do not overcrowd telephone networks”.
French interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve said SAIP will “keep the public up to date with what we know”. Ukrainian security services arrested a Frenchman and an accomplice on Monday who they believe were planning attacks before and during the tournament. The SAIP mobile application is available in French and English, and adds to the existing system for alerting and informing populations (sirens, pre-formatted radio messages, etc.).
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The Irish government issued its own warning to Republic of Ireland fans heading to the tournament to exercise a high degree of caution four days ago.
