An Afghan repatriated to France, suspected of being close to the Taliban by the French authorities, was placed under surveillance, as well as four other returnees close to him, AFP learned Monday from Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin.
These five men were the subject of an “individual measure of administrative control and surveillance” (Micas), provided for in the framework of the anti-terrorism laws.
Security interviews in Abu Dhabi
One man particularly caught the attention of the authorities: “Even if this person greatly helped in the evacuation of the French embassy, we believe that he may be linked to the Taliban”, explained the minister. According to the order taken by the minister and consulted by AFP, this man admitted his membership of the movement and admitted to having carried arms as responsible for a Taliban roadblock in Kabul.
“Faced with the extremely strong difficulties of being able to carry out security investigations on the persons to be repatriated”, the French authorities “have agreed to embark this person and his family”, added the Minister.
When the flight arrived in Abu Dhabi, the Directorate General of Internal Surveillance (DGSI) “did the job it could not do in Kabul” by conducting security talks, he explained. .
The five people are subject to “restriction of liberty” measures
On his arrival in France this weekend, he was notified of the Micas, just like three of his relatives “for the time being not directly suspected”. As for the fifth man, “we saw after a DGSI investigation that he had links with these people although he had come separately”, detailed the minister. The five are under “supervision of the DGSI” and are subject to “restriction of liberty” measures, he said.
“I have not had other feedback from the DGSI” as to other nationals who may be affected by such measures, added the Minister. “However, we are extremely careful.”