French authorities have rescued the father of a cryptocurrency entrepreneur who was abducted in Paris and held for ransom. The 60-year-old victim, whose identity has not been disclosed, was seized by four masked men on a Paris street Thursday morning and held captive in an Airbnb south of the city. During the ordeal, his captors severed one of his fingers and sent a video of the mutilation to his son, demanding millions of euros in cryptocurrency. The victim was freed Saturday night in a police raid in Essonne, with five suspects arrested.
This incident is part of a troubling pattern of kidnappings targeting individuals connected to the cryptocurrency industry. In January, David Balland, co-founder of the crypto firm Ledger, and his partner were abducted in central France. The kidnappers severed Balland’s finger and sent a video of the mutilation to another Ledger co-founder, demanding a €10 million ransom. Both were rescued by the elite GIGN police unit within 48 hours.
These cases highlight the growing threat to individuals involved in the cryptocurrency sector, prompting increased concern among law enforcement agencies across Europe. Investigations into these abductions are ongoing, with authorities focusing on organized criminal groups operating across national borders.
For more information on cybercrime and related resources, visit www.ic3.gov.
