A shocking attempted kidnapping unfolded in central Paris on Monday when armed, masked men tried to abduct the daughter of a prominent crypto executive and her two-year-old child in broad daylight, Le Parisien reports.
The brazen attack occurred on Rue Pache in the 11th Arrondissement, where three assailants leaped out of a postal delivery van and seized the woman and her young child.
The terrifying moment was captured in video footage taken by bystanders and nearby surveillance cameras, showing a violent struggle erupting in the street.
According to eyewitnesses, the child’s father intervened quickly, fighting off the attackers in a desperate effort to protect his family.
While the identities of the executive and the company have not been disclosed, police are investigating whether the attack was financially motivated, possibly linked to the family’s crypto wealth. The Paris prosecutor’s office has assigned the investigation to the city’s anti-banditry brigade, which specializes in organized violent crimes.
French authorities have confirmed the targeted woman is the daughter of the head of a cryptocurrency platform.
This attempted kidnapping shows growing concerns about the security risks faced by high-profile people in the cryptocurrency industry, especially those with large assets or public visibility. In recent years, several crypto executives and their families have been targeted due to the perception of extreme personal wealth tied to the sector.
No arrests have been made as of yet, and authorities are urging anyone with information or footage of the incident to come forward.