France Probes Migrant Communities to Counter ISIS-K Threat Ahead of Olympics

PARIS – French security services have been investigating migrant communities from former Soviet republics to protect the upcoming Olympics from potential threats posed by the ISIS-K militant group, confirmed Gérald Darmanin, the French Interior Minister. This confirmation follows a Reuters report released last week.

In an interview with Le Parisien published on Tuesday, Darmanin described ISIS-K as “undoubtedly the most dangerous movement,” though he clarified that authorities had not identified any concrete threat to the Games.

ISIS-K, a resurgent wing of the Islamic State, derives its name from the historical region of Khorasan, which includes parts of Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. In response to this threat, French security services have been focusing on individuals associated with the ten nationalities of the former Soviet Union.

Last week, Reuters reported that French security services had been working to close an intelligence gap and build stronger connections with Tajiks, Central Asians, and other individuals from former Soviet republics residing in France. Members of these communities reported receiving calls or other forms of contact from the police seeking information about them and their networks. This outreach follows two significant attacks this year, reportedly carried out by Tajik members of ISIS-K, in Iran and Moscow.

Darmanin also detailed some of the extensive security measures being implemented for the opening ceremony along the Seine River, a highly anticipated and complex event set to take place on Friday. “We checked all the cellars of the buildings along the Seine on the route of the ceremony. The catacombs were also checked,” he said, adding that “thousands of manhole covers were welded shut.”

Despite these precautions, Darmanin assured that the opening ceremony would proceed as planned, barring any severe weather conditions. The ceremony is expected to attract a global audience of 2-3 billion viewers.