Paris Olympics security means minorities and others treated as potential terror threats can't move freely

French authorities are making unprecedentedly broad use of discretionary powers under an anti-terror law to keep hundreds of people they deem to be potential security threats away from the biggest event modern France has ever organized.

Minorities are often among those forbidden from leaving their neighborhoods and required to report daily to police.

Some are alarmed by the sweeping use of what one described as “a terribly dangerous tool”.

Interior Minister Darmanin says less than 200 Olympic-related MICAS cases are still in force during the Games.

Paris ’ chief of police, Laurent Nuñez described the restrictions’ wide use as “extremely positive” AP spoke to six lawyers for about 20 people whose movements have been restricted.

Lawyers say some of their clients have no prior convictions and only tenuous links to suspected extremism.

The intelligence services’ MICAS request described the raised finger as a sign of allegiance to Allah.

“I am not at all anti-Zionist , homophobic or anything. All those ideas are alien to me,” Amine says.

The MICAS order — seen by AP — that bars Amine from leaving his Paris suburb except for his daily police check-in.