A French cryptocurrency professional and his family were attacked and held hostage in their home in Vendin-le-Vieil, Pas-de-Calais, during a violent early-morning invasion that resulted in substantial crypto losses.
Home invasion and forced transfer
Four masked assailants broke into the family’s house at approximately 4:00 a.m. on Sunday, where they confronted the father, his partner, and their two children, aged 8 and 12. The attackers, after searching the home, separated the father from the rest of the family and demanded access to his digital assets.
Investigators stated that the suspects coerced the father into revealing his cryptocurrency codes. Under duress, he was forced to transfer roughly €40,000 in cryptocurrency to the attackers before they left the scene.
During the ordeal, the suspects kept the family hostage for over three hours, reportedly assaulting both the father and his 12-year-old daughter. The daughter was said to have been struck in the face with a set of car keys, though no life-threatening injuries were documented.
After obtaining the crypto funds, the intruders took off in a car. Once the suspects vacated the property, the family managed to free themselves, and the father contacted emergency services around 8:00 a.m.
Ongoing investigation
French judicial police from Pas-de-Calais and Nord departments have launched a formal inquiry into the kidnapping and extortion, classifying it as an act by an organized group. The national anti-cybercrime office is supporting the investigation, focusing on the technical aspects of the forced cryptocurrency transfer and examining how the digital assets were moved.
At this stage, law enforcement authorities have not disclosed the specific cryptocurrency involved, nor have they released the names of the individuals connected with the assault. According to officials, none of the suspects have been apprehended, and all four remain at large.
The family, reportedly in shock, received assistance from firefighters and medical responders shortly after the call to emergency services. The presence of young children at the scene appeared to intensify the severity of the incident, as both minors and adults were threatened and physically harmed during the attack.
Authorities continue efforts to identify the suspects, recover potential losses, and reconstruct the full sequence of events leading up to the crime. As of the latest reports, no updates on arrests or recovery of the stolen cryptocurrency have been made public.
The attack underscores the personal risks faced by individuals employed in the cryptocurrency sector, particularly those with assets that can be quickly transferred under duress.
Mini dictionary: Pas-de-Calais — A department in the northern region of France known for key industrial areas and proximity to the English Channel.
French police have advised the public to remain vigilant, especially those with significant cryptocurrency holdings. Updates on the ongoing case will likely follow as new information becomes available.
