Video circulating widely on social media shows the horrifying moment the pregnant daughter of a cryptocurrency company executive, accompanied by her 2-year-old child, narrowly escaped a kidnapping attempt in Paris.

Paris

A widely circulated video shows an attempted kidnapping involving the pregnant daughter and young grandson of a French cryptocurrency executive in Paris. Police reported that four masked individuals tried to abduct the woman and her child, as documented in footage where the victims resisted and called for help. During the altercation, the woman threw what appeared to be a firearm into the street, which was later confirmed to be fake by local media.

A shopkeeper intervened by using a fire extinguisher, prompting the attackers to flee the scene in a white van. The victims received treatment for minor injuries, according to French broadcaster BFM TV. Authorities believe the attempted abduction was motivated by the family's association with cryptocurrency, with AFP identifying the woman's father as the CEO of the French crypto exchange Paymium.

The Paris prosecutor has launched an investigation into attempted kidnapping by an organized group, aggravated assault, and criminal conspiracy. This incident marks the fourth known kidnapping attempt in France linked to cryptocurrency in recent months, with previous cases resulting in serious injury. In response to growing security concerns, the French interior minister has scheduled a meeting with cryptocurrency entrepreneurs and officials to discuss possible measures.



Pregnant daughter of crypto executive escapes kidnapping

This is the spot where on Tuesday morning, four masked men attempted to kidnap the daughter and grandson of a prominent French crypto boss, according to police, and it was all caught on camera. The video shows them fighting back and screaming for help. You can hear the woman shouting, aidez-moi, help me, as she grabs an object that appears to be a gun and throws it in the street. It turned out to be a fake, according to BFM TV. A shopkeeper now being hailed as a hero ran out with a fire extinguisher, forcing the attackers to flee in a white van. The family was treated for minor injuries, according to BFM TV. Police believe the attackers were targeting them because of their ties to cryptocurrency. AFP reports the woman's father is the CEO of Paymium, a French crypto exchange. The Paris prosecutor has opened an investigation into attempted kidnapping by an organized gang, aggravated assault and criminal conspiracy. This is the fourth attempted crypto-related abduction in France in just six months. In one case, a victim's finger was severed. The interior minister is holding an emergency meeting with crypto entrepreneurs on Friday as officials now race to respond to this escalating threat.

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