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Rabat – France’s Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has announced a meeting on Friday with cryptocurrency businesspeople to discuss new safety measures after several crypto millionaires were targeted by kidnapping attempts.
The decision comes just one day after an attempted kidnapping targeting the daughter and grandson of Paymium CEO Pierre Noizat, a French cryptocurrency exchange platform.
The mother and her child, along with her husband, were attacked by four masked men in broad daylight in central Paris. Police said the victims suffered only minor injuries.
Three masked individuals jumped out and tried to force the woman and her son into the van. The husband tried to fight off the attackers but was beaten with blunt objects. During the struggle, the woman managed to grab a pistol from one of the attackers and threw it away. It was later confirmed to be an airsoft gun.
The attackers fled in the van when passersby heard the screams and came to help.
“I will assemble businesspeople working in cryptocurrencies, and we have a few of those in France, at the interior ministry to work with them on their security…and so that they become aware of the risks,” Retailleau told the Europe 1/CNews broadcaster.
France has recently seen a wave of kidnappings and attempted kidnappings connected to crypto wealth. In January, David Balland, co-founder of the Ledger crypto firm, was abducted along with his partner. During the incident, Balland’s finger was cut off by the kidnappers. Nine people have since been arrested in that case, including the suspected leader of the group.
Another case in May involved a man kidnapped in an attempt to force his crypto-millionaire son to pay a ransom. Seven suspects were arrested during the police operation to rescue him.
“We must jointly take measures to protect them,” Retailleau said, promising that authorities would not stop until all the criminals involved are found, even if they are hiding abroad.
