Paris, France – French police have arrested six individuals following a foiled attempt to kidnap a senior magistrate and demand a ransom in cryptocurrency, according to judicial sources who spoke to Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Monday. The arrests bring an end to a high-stakes, though ultimately unsuccessful, extortion plot that underscores the growing use of digital currency in serious criminal activity.
The operation was deemed ‘botched’ by investigators after the judicial official was briefly abducted but subsequently released unharmed before the perpetrators could secure the demanded funds. Sources indicated that the suspects specifically demanded a substantial sum in Bitcoin, likely seeking to leverage the perceived anonymity of cryptocurrency to complicate police tracking and recovery efforts.
Specialized units of the National Police and Gendarmerie were quickly mobilized upon learning of the abduction. Their swift action led to the identification and subsequent apprehension of the six suspects across various locations in the greater Paris region.
The detainees are facing preliminary charges including kidnapping, armed extortion, and participation in a criminal association. Authorities are currently investigating the precise motivations behind the attack and whether the magistrate was targeted specifically due to their professional duties or their perceived personal wealth. The investigation remains ongoing.
Source: French police arrest six after botched crypto ransom attempt in magistrate kidnapping: AFP
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