Prague, Sept 10 (CTK) – The Czech authorities have no information about any refugees on its territory being linked to Islamic State (IS), PM Bohuslav Sobotka and Interior Minister Milan Chovanec (both Social Democrats, CSSD) told reporters after a meeting of the National Security Council Thursday.
The migrants’ flow has been weakening of late and the Czech Republic has enough facilities for their accommodation, Chovanec said.
He said over 300 vacant beds for refugees are available in the Czech Republic now.
As from October 1, the ministry will open a new accommodation facility in Drahonice, north Bohemia, with a capacity of 220 beds.
Another facility, with 200 beds, will be opened in Balkova, west Bohemia, as from next year, Chovanec said.
Sobotka said it is probable that Islamic State and its branches are operating in refugee camps.
“However, as far as the situation in the Czech Republic is concerned… we have no information about anyone who could be suspected of terrorist activities being detained here in connection with the migration wave,” Sobotka said.
Chovanec confirmed his words.
The numbers of migrants detained on Czech territory have been falling in the past days, Chovanec said.
“The migration wave is expected to culminate and weaken after October. However, another wave may come with the spring,” he added.
Chovanec said the Czech intelligence service (UZSI) has been reinforcing its presence in the countries afflicted by the migration wave.
In the past days, an UZSI officer reappeared in Serbia after a pause, he said.
The Interior Ministry has also sent its people to Macedonia and Turkey, and it has been enhancing its presence in countries such as Austria and Hungary, Chovanec said.
Czech diplomacy, too, plans to deal with the migration crisis. Sobotka said the ambassadors of all countries of the refugees’ origin, mainly the Middle East, will meet in Prague in autumn to discuss ways to help these countries and solve the crisis.
