France’s finance ministry is seeking new authority to track the bank accounts of people who have merely come under the suspicion of the intelligence agencies as part of intrusive new plans to combat terror financing, reports The Financial Times.
The government will propose new measures in January to give Tracfin, the anti-money laundering arm of the finance ministry, access to the finances of those listed on a database of people wanted by police, known as the FPR.
This includes the roughly 10,500 people designated “Fiches S”, a controversial label given to those under suspicion by the intelligence services but who have not necessarily committed any crimes.
The list includes those suspected of being radicalised. It also includes other suspects who pose a potential threat, such as organised criminals. Most are not under full-time surveillance because of the manpower that would require.
This comes as the country scrambles to react to the brutal terrorist attacks last week which left 130 dead. A three-month state of emergency has already been declared, and the country has stepped up bombing in Syria.
Although authorities are still piecing together the details, it appears that the attacks in Paris were likely to have cost thousands of euros, with the jihadis renting at least two hotel rooms as well as a flat on the outskirts of Paris to prepare. They also rented at least three cars. The Kalashnikov rifles, if bought in Brussels, are estimated to cost around €1,000 to €2,000 each.
Increasing pressure on those dubbed “Fiches S” has become a political priority since the attack. Former President Nicolas Sarkozy last week said those on the list should be electronically tagged.
Michel Sapin, the finance minister, also announced on Monday an initiative to improve the supervision of prepaid bank cards, which played a role in the preparation of the attacks of November 13, he said.