French Magistrate and Mother Rescued After Bitcoin Ransom Kidnapping in Targeted Crypto Attack

A 35-year-old magistrate and her 67-year-old mother were rescued on February 6, 2026, after being held captive for nearly 30 hours in a garage in Bourg-lès-Valence.

French authorities confirmed that the abduction was part of a targeted cryptocurrency ransom plot, underscoring the growing physical security risks tied to digital assets.

The kidnapping began in the early hours of February 5 in Saint-Martin-le-Vinoux, near Grenoble, and was not random.

How the Abduction Unfolded

Investigators say the magistrate was targeted specifically because her partner holds a senior position at a cryptocurrency start-up. At approximately 3:00 AM, masked individuals forced their way into the home, abducted both women, and placed them in the trunk of a vehicle.

The kidnappers then drove the victims roughly 100 kilometers south to a locked garage in Bourg-lès-Valence, where they were held overnight.

Shortly after the abduction, the perpetrators contacted the partner, sending a photo of the victims and demanding a ransom of €1.6 million in Bitcoin. The message included explicit threats of mutilation if the payment was not made swiftly, escalating the pressure on the family.

Escape Without Ransom Payment

Despite the severity of the threats, no ransom was paid. On Friday morning, the two women managed to free themselves from confinement and alert a passerby by banging on the garage door and screaming for help. Emergency services were called, and both victims were rescued without life-threatening injuries.

Arrests After Large-Scale Manhunt

French police launched a major operation involving around 160 officers. Within hours, authorities arrested six suspects, including four men, one woman, and a minor. Two of the suspects were detained while attempting to flee to Spain by bus, according to law enforcement sources.

The suspects are now facing charges related to kidnapping, extortion, and organized criminal activity.

Part of a Broader Rise in “Wrench Attacks”

This case is part of a sharp rise in so-called “wrench attacks” in France—incidents involving physical violence, kidnapping, or coercion aimed at forcing victims to hand over cryptocurrency.

According to security reports, such attacks have increased by approximately 75% in 2026 compared to the previous year. France has emerged as a major hotspot, accounting for a significant share of the roughly 40% of global wrench attacks occurring in Europe.

Several high-profile cases have already highlighted the trend, including the kidnapping of David Balland in January 2025 and the abduction of the father of a crypto millionaire later that same year.

A Growing Physical Risk for the Crypto Sector

The incident reinforces warnings from law enforcement that as cryptocurrency wealth becomes more widespread, criminals are increasingly turning to offline, physical extortion rather than purely digital theft.

French authorities continue to urge heightened personal security measures for individuals and families connected to the crypto industry, noting that operational security failures now carry real-world consequences.

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