French police detain twenty suspects over cryptocurrency kidnappings

French police have arrested around 20 people alleged to have been involved in a recent spate of kidnappings and kidnapping attempts against cryptocurrency bosses and their families.

The arrests took place on Monday and Tuesday, according to media outlet Franceinfo.

French media reported that half a dozen suspects were taken into custody on Tuesday in connection with the attempted kidnapping of the daughter of cryptocurrency boss Pierre Noizat earlier this month.

The attack, which took place in broad daylight on 13 May, shocked France. Assailants were filmed trying to kidnap Noizat’s pregnant daughter, who was out for a walk with her partner and their child.

Tuesday’s arrests came after a dozen other people were detained in the commune of Couëron, near the western French city of Nantes, on Monday.

In response to the increasing number of violent attacks against cryptocurrency professionals and their families, French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau convened an emergency meeting with industry leaders in mid-May.

During the meeting, Retailleau outlined ways of ensuring their security, including a plan to give them access to special emergency contact numbers.

“These serial kidnappings will be combated with specific tools, both immediate and short-term, to prevent, deter and hinder in order to protect the industry,” Retailleau said after the meeting.

“The entire state apparatus is fully mobilised to track down the perpetrators and instigators of this violence and put them out of action”, he added.