The latest alleged attack on wealthy cryptocurrency families in Paris saw a botched kidnapping attempt on a 34-year-old woman and her two-year-old in broad daylight
Horror footage shows the moment crypto CEO’s daughter and her young child were attacked by gang in Paris. The incident, which unfolded around 8.20am local time this morning in the Rue Pache area of the French capital, allegedly involved three men trying to force a woman into a van.
The alleged kidnappers are said to have attempted to snatch the 34-year-old woman – the daughter of unnamed cryptocurrency millionaire – and her two-year-old child in broad daylight. French media said the abduction was only stopped by the efforts of the child’s father, who shielded her and took several punches, and suffered what appeared to be a stab wound to his upper back.
Bystanders also came to help the victims, and the foiled kidnappers quickly sped away in their van.
One of them is seen throwing what looks like a fire extinguisher at the vehicle as it hurriedly drives away.
This afternoon, the Paris prosecutor’s office called for an investigation into the incident.
It marks only the latest attack on cryptocurrency investors and their families in France, sparking a probe among police into a possible organised crime connection.
Last week, police rescued the dad of a cryptocurrency millionaire who had been kidnapped and held for ransom in a suburb of Paris.
In a striking similarity to the latest incident, police sources quoted by Le Figaro newspaper said the man had been targeted in broad daylight in central Paris.
He was mobbed by a group of men forced into a delivery van by four masked men in balaclavas.
While he was being kept hostage, the kidnappers demanded a ransom of between $5.6million (£4.2million) and $7million (£5.2million) from his son.
The victim, said to be in his 50s, was reported missing a finger when he was eventually located in a property in Palaiseau, located south of Paris.Four suspects have been arrested.