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Thursday, May 15, 2025
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Daughter of crypto boss escapes Paris kidnap in latest in series of attacks
Armed assailants target daughter and grandson of French cryptocurrency boss in daytime attack, prompting calls for increased security measures
On Tuesday morning, four masked men attacked the daughter, her partner, and their child of a French cryptocurrency boss in Paris's 11th district.
The incident was caught on camera, showing passers-by intervening to foil the attempted kidnapping.
The woman and her partner fought off the attackers, with one witness reporting that the assailants tried to 'pull a young woman by force' into a waiting van branded with Chronopost delivery company logos.
However, Chronopost has stated that it does not believe the van was from its company, suggesting an attempt to mimic its branding.
The woman managed to grab a gun from one of the masked men and throw it into the street; the weapon was later found to be fake.
The screams for help attracted the attention of passers-by, who intervened, with one person using a fire extinguisher to try to make the attackers leave.
The assailants eventually gave up and fled in their van.
All three victims sustained light injuries and were treated in hospital, with the woman, who is five months pregnant, being treated for shock.
The incident has prompted Paymium, the crypto firm owned by the father of the woman targeted, to demand 'protections' for companies in France's cryptocurrency sphere.
This attack is the latest in a string of violent incidents targeting figures in France's burgeoning crypto industry, with at least five such incidents reported since 2023. In recent months, there have been two attacks, including the kidnapping of the father of a cryptocurrency entrepreneur in May and the abduction of David Balland, a co-founder of French crypto firm Ledger, in January.
France's Interior Minister has announced plans to meet with cryptocurrency entrepreneurs to discuss security measures following the spate of attacks.
An investigation into the incident has been opened by the Paris prosecutor's office, with offenses including attempted arrest, abduction, kidnapping or arbitrary detention committed by an organized gang, aggravated violence, and participation in a criminal association.
The incident was caught on camera, showing passers-by intervening to foil the attempted kidnapping.
The woman and her partner fought off the attackers, with one witness reporting that the assailants tried to 'pull a young woman by force' into a waiting van branded with Chronopost delivery company logos.
However, Chronopost has stated that it does not believe the van was from its company, suggesting an attempt to mimic its branding.
The woman managed to grab a gun from one of the masked men and throw it into the street; the weapon was later found to be fake.
The screams for help attracted the attention of passers-by, who intervened, with one person using a fire extinguisher to try to make the attackers leave.
The assailants eventually gave up and fled in their van.
All three victims sustained light injuries and were treated in hospital, with the woman, who is five months pregnant, being treated for shock.
The incident has prompted Paymium, the crypto firm owned by the father of the woman targeted, to demand 'protections' for companies in France's cryptocurrency sphere.
This attack is the latest in a string of violent incidents targeting figures in France's burgeoning crypto industry, with at least five such incidents reported since 2023. In recent months, there have been two attacks, including the kidnapping of the father of a cryptocurrency entrepreneur in May and the abduction of David Balland, a co-founder of French crypto firm Ledger, in January.
France's Interior Minister has announced plans to meet with cryptocurrency entrepreneurs to discuss security measures following the spate of attacks.
An investigation into the incident has been opened by the Paris prosecutor's office, with offenses including attempted arrest, abduction, kidnapping or arbitrary detention committed by an organized gang, aggravated violence, and participation in a criminal association.
