A shocking incident unfolded yesterday morning on Rue Pache in Paris, as the daughter of a major cryptocurrency executive and her two-year-old child became victims of a violent attempted kidnapping.
The harrowing event was captured on camera, showing the woman and her young child being attacked in broad daylight by a group of armed men.
Violent Attack and Struggle
The 34-year-old woman was walking down the street when three men, armed and aggressive, approached her.
In a terrifying turn of events, the assailants attempted to force both the woman and her child into a white van.
The situation escalated quickly when the child’s father tried to intervene, only to be struck by the attackers.
In the chaos, the mother managed to grab a handgun from one of the men, throwing it away in a desperate attempt to protect herself and her family.
Screams and a Desperate Rescue
As the situation grew more intense, the father, visibly distressed and beaten, yelled for help, reportedly shouting, “Help! She’s pregnant!” The screams of the victims caught the attention of nearby passers-by, who rushed to the scene, ready to assist.
This moment of public intervention forced the attackers to flee, scrambling into their van and driving off hastily.
One bystander even threw a fire extinguisher at the escaping vehicle in a last-ditch effort to stop the assailants.
The attackers abandoned their van not far from the scene, and police later confirmed that the Paris Judicial Police’s Anti-Banditism Brigade (BRB) had launched an investigation into the attempted kidnapping.
A Disturbing Trend of Crypto-Related Kidnappings
This violent episode follows a similar incident just days earlier in Paris, where another cryptocurrency-related kidnapping shocked the city.
On May 1, the father of a crypto entrepreneur was held captive for more than 48 hours after being kidnapped.
During his captivity, the victim was tortured and a ransom demand was made for millions. The situation turned horrific when the captors filmed the severing of his finger and sent it to his son.
Police eventually raided the building where the man was held, using non-lethal grenades to arrest the kidnappers. Five people were arrested and taken into custody.
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau praised the investigative team, calling their work “exceptional” in freeing the victim.
Previous Crypto Kidnapping Cases
This is not the first time that individuals linked to the cryptocurrency world have been targeted in Paris.
In January, David Balland, a co-founder of the French crypto company Ledger, and his wife were kidnapped and tortured for several hours.
The couple was eventually found and freed, though not before the kidnappers had mutilated David’s hand and demanded a €10 million ransom.
These incidents point to a troubling trend where high-profile individuals in the cryptocurrency sector are being targeted by criminals seeking to exploit their wealth.
As authorities continue to investigate these cases, the motive behind these attacks remains unclear.
However, the surge in such violent incidents has raised serious concerns about the safety of crypto entrepreneurs and their families in Paris.