In a dramatic operation, French police have rescued
the father of a wealthy cryptocurrency entrepreneur who was kidnapped in Paris
and held for ransom. The 60-year-old victim was abducted on Thursday morning in
the 14th arrondissement by four masked men as he walked his dog. The kidnappers
demanded a ransom between €5 million and €7 million from his son, co-owner of a
Malta-based cryptocurrency firm. To pressure the family, they severed one of
the victim's fingers and sent a video of the mutilation to his son
Acting on intelligence, police located the victim in a
house in Essonne, south of Paris. Fearing further harm, the elite Search and
Intervention Brigade (BRI) launched a raid on Saturday night, successfully
freeing the hostage and arresting four suspects at the scene. Three additional
suspects were detained later, bringing the total to seven.
This incident is part of a troubling trend in France
and Europe, where individuals connected to the cryptocurrency industry are
being targeted for ransom. In January, David Balland, co-founder of
crypto-wallet firm Ledger, was kidnapped along with his wife. Balland also had
a finger severed, and the kidnappers demanded a €10 million ransom. Both were
rescued by police, and ten suspects were arrested.
Authorities are investigating the latest case under
charges including kidnapping with torture or barbaric acts. The incidents
highlight the growing risks faced by those in the cryptocurrency sector.
Comments:
Leave a Reply