French police have arrested several suspects linked to the brutal May 1 kidnapping of a cryptocurrency entrepreneur’s father, authorities confirmed Wednesday.
The victim was snatched in broad daylight in Paris by four masked men and later had a finger severed as kidnappers demanded a multimillion-euro ransom. He was rescued days later in a raid on a suburban house.
The arrests come amid a wave of extortion attempts targeting crypto millionaires. Since January, at least two high-profile abductions have occurred, including that of David Balland, co-founder of $1 billion crypto firm Ledger. Balland also had a finger cut off before being released.
The suspected ringleader of that earlier attack, 24-year-old Badiss Mohamed Amide Bajjou, was arrested last week in Morocco. At least nine people are being investigated.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has since pledged stronger protections for crypto elites, warning of rising threats from organised crime.
