In a recent incident in Paris, French police rescued the father of a wealthy cryptocurrency entrepreneur after he was taken hostage for ransom, marking a troubling trend of extortion targeting those in the digital asset sector. The kidnapping occurred on Thursday, and police began their investigation after a ransom demand was made. Authorities located the victim in a house in the Essonne region south of Paris and successfully rescued him late Saturday night. The prosecutor’s office reported that the victim sustained injuries, including the loss of a finger, although specific details about his condition were not disclosed.
Five individuals have been arrested in connection with the kidnapping: four were apprehended at the site of the hostage’s confinement, while the fifth was found driving a vehicle linked to the abduction. The ongoing investigation is exploring multiple criminal charges, including “kidnapping with torture or a barbaric act.”
This incident follows a similar case from January, when David Balland, a co-founder of the French crypto-wallet company Ledger, and his wife were kidnapped from their home in central France. They were held for ransom, with demands made in cryptocurrency, and both were eventually rescued by the elite National Gendarmerie Intervention Group (GIGN) after a series of police operations.
These events underline the increasing risks faced by individuals involved in cryptocurrency, highlighting a growing pattern of criminal activities aimed at exploiting wealthy individuals in this rapidly evolving industry.
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