A dramatic daylight kidnapping attempt unfolded on the streets of Paris on Tuesday, May 12, as three masked men tried to abduct the daughter of a prominent cryptocurrency executive.
The chilling incident, caught on CCTV, occurred around 8:20 a.m. on Rue Pache, a quiet residential area in the French capital. The footage shows the masked assailants trying to force the 34-year-old woman into a van. Her two-year-old child was reportedly with her during the ordeal.
In a courageous intervention, the woman’s partner rushed to her aid, managing to fend off the attackers. The suspects, one of whom allegedly dropped a handgun—unclear whether it was real or a replica—fled the scene in their vehicle.
Witnesses say the disturbing event played out in front of stunned onlookers, most of whom did not intervene despite the victim's screams. A man who stepped in was reportedly assaulted by the gang before they abandoned the abduction attempt.
Authorities later recovered the getaway van in the same district. French news outlet Le Parisien confirmed that the victim is related to the CEO of a cryptocurrency purchasing platform, although names have not been released due to privacy and ongoing investigations.
The Paris Prosecutor's Office has since assigned the city’s anti-banditry unit to lead the investigation into the attempted kidnapping.
A video clip of the incident has since gone viral on social media, sparking widespread outrage and concerns over rising violent crimes in European urban centers.
Watch the video below (Viewer discretion advised):
[Embedded tweet from @RMXnews]
