French police rescued the father of a wealthy cryptocurrency entrepreneur in a late-night operation after he was taken hostage for ransom, the latest in a series of criminal incidents in France targeting individuals involved in managing digital assets. The man, who remains unidentified, was abducted on Thursday morning in Paris, according to the prosecutor’s office. The victim’s son had amassed a fortune in cryptocurrencies, leading to the ransom demand. Following an intense investigation, police located the hostage in a residence in the Essonne region south of Paris and successfully freed him on Saturday evening. The victim received medical treatment for injuries sustained during his captivity, with reports indicating that one of his fingers was severed by the kidnappers. Five individuals were apprehended by authorities, with four found in or near the location of the hostage and the fifth linked to the vehicle believed to have been used in the abduction. The investigation is exploring various criminal charges, including kidnapping involving torture or cruel acts. This incident follows a similar case in January involving the co-founder of a French crypto-wallet company, where multiple arrests were made after a ransom in cryptocurrency was demanded. Both victims were successfully rescued by the elite National Gendarmerie Intervention Group, specialized in hostage situations.
