A violent attack in the center of Paris resulted in a man losing a hard drive containing Bitcoin worth approximately 2 million euros. The incident occurred on the evening of August 5 and continues to reflect the rising trend of cryptocurrency-related crimes in France.
According to local media, the attack began around 7:15 PM at the luxury Peninsula hotel on Kléber Avenue, in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. Hotel staff reported to the police after witnessing five unidentified men approach a guest and threaten: 'Give us 400,000 euros, and then everything will end.'
The victim was then forced to leave the hotel and taken to an area near the Arc de Triomphe, where he was assaulted.
Crime-fighting forces quickly deployed and arrested all five suspects in the 8th arrondissement. Initial investigations suggest this group may be linked to a nearby nightclub, where the victim is believed to owe 40,000 euros. The police believe the suspects sought to recover the debt through violence.
The victim reported being beaten and threatened, and his iPhone 13 Pro Max along with a hard drive containing Bitcoin worth approximately 2 million euros was taken from him. He also mentioned that a week earlier, he had been approached and threatened with a weapon by this group.
Currently, all five suspects are being held at the District 1 Police Headquarters on charges of extortion. By nightfall, the case was transferred to the Armed Robbery Investigation Unit. The Paris Prosecutor's Office confirmed that five people are being held in custody, and the process of taking statements and investigating is still ongoing.
Increase in cryptocurrency crimes in Paris
Recently, Paris has continuously recorded serious crimes related to cryptocurrency. In May, a masked gang attempted to kidnap the relatives of the co-founder of the Bitcoin exchange Paynium, but failed. 25 suspects were later prosecuted.
Another incident involved the father of a cryptocurrency millionaire being held hostage while walking his dog. Ledger co-founder David Balland and his wife were also kidnapped at their home in January. A French special forces unit rescued the two victims after 58 hours of captivity, arresting several individuals with prior convictions for cryptocurrency-related crimes. Both cases involved ransom demands, and the victims were released in a state of losing some fingers.