A Paris bicycle shop-owner is being celebrated as a local hero after he intervened in a brazen attempted kidnapping on the streets of Paris, using a fire extinguisher to chase off a gang of masked attackers. The target of the kidnapping was reportedly the daughter of a French crypto businessman, according to local media.
The incident occurred on Tuesday in the 11th arrondissement and has sparked renewed concerns over the safety of individuals tied to the cryptocurrency industry, which has seen an uptick in threats, particularly in France.
Dramatic Rescue Caught on Camera
Widely circulated video footage shows:
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Three masked men wrestling with the woman and her husband.
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A van idling nearby, presumed to be the getaway vehicle.
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The shopkeeper, identified only as Nabil, charging at the attackers with a fire extinguisher.
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The attackers fleeing into the van, with Nabil throwing the extinguisher at the vehicle as it drives off.
Community Applause for Local Hero
On Wednesday, passersby and neighbors praised Nabil outside his shop:
“You’re a champion,” one woman said.
“Thank you very much. That’s kind,” Nabil replied.
Nabil said he knew the couple personally and commended the woman’s husband for his bravery:
“He took a lot of blows to the head and he didn’t let go of his wife. I think that’s what made them give up, more than the fire extinguisher.”
He described his decision to act as spontaneous:
“I rushed over with that object, not knowing exactly what I was going to do with it. But I feel like it ended the altercation. So I achieved my goal.”
Growing Risks for Crypto Figures
This attempted abduction marks at least the third such attack targeting individuals linked to France’s crypto sector in recent months. French prosecutors have launched an investigation, and authorities are examining potential organized crime links.
The incident underscores the increasing physical security threats faced by crypto entrepreneurs, whose digital wealth has made them prime targets for extortion and kidnapping in real life.