An attempted abduction occurred in Paris involving the daughter and grandson of a well-known French cryptocurrency trader, resulting in a dramatic confrontation with the would-be kidnappers. The incident unfolded on a Tuesday when four masked assailants emerged from a white van and targeted the pair. This brazen attempt was captured on video by a bystander, highlighting the audacity of the attack.
As the masked gang attempted to seize the mother and child, her partner intervened, only to be assaulted by the attackers. Fortunately, the victims bravely resisted, with the mother managing to snatch one of the attackers’ firearms and throw it away. Despite sustaining injuries during the scuffle, all three individuals were subsequently taken to the hospital for treatment.
Their cries for help attracted the attention of nearby passers-by, prompting the gang to flee the scene in their vehicle, escaping without their intended victims. The woman at the centre of the incident is the daughter of the CEO and co-founder of Paymium, a cryptocurrency exchange in France.
This alarming event is part of a troubling trend in which executives within the French cryptocurrency sector have faced escalating violence and threats. Previously, there have been several violent incidents targeting crypto industry figures in France. Just weeks before this attempted abduction, French authorities successfully rescued the father of a cryptocurrency entrepreneur, who had endured significant trauma, including having a finger severed, while held captive in an Airbnb.
In a similarly disturbing case from January, David Balland, a co-founder of the crypto firm Ledger, and his partner were abducted from their home. During their captivity, Balland suffered the severing of a finger, with the assailants sending a video of the gruesome act to his associate as they demanded ransom.
These incidents highlight the growing risks faced by individuals in the cryptocurrency world, raising concerns about their safety as violent crimes increasingly target this sector in France.