Afghan national arrested in France on terror financing, propaganda charges

French security agencies have arrested a 20-year-old Afghan national with alleged links to ISIS-K (Islamic State Khorasan Province).

According to the French National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT), the suspect has been charged with membership in a terrorist organization and terror financing.

He was arrested last week in the city of Lyon and has since been remanded in custody.

Investigations revealed that the suspect supported jihadist ideology and maintained contact with ISIS-K. He was reportedly involved in financing the group as well as translating and promoting its propaganda videos on social media.

French newspaper Le Parisien reported that the suspect moved from Afghanistan to France several years ago and was residing in a detention center in Lyon at the time of his arrest.

The report added that he had been spreading extremist content on TikTok and Snapchat and was already under investigation for glorifying terrorism.

It is worth noting that ISIS-K operates in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and parts of Central Asia, and has claimed responsibility for several deadly attacks, including the March 2024 Moscow concert hall massacre.