An attempt targeting a senior figure in the French cryptocurrency industry led to a series of violent home invasions and a cross-region police operation. It ended with the arrest of three suspects on Thursday.
According to confirmed information from several judicial authorities, masked and armed men broke into a residential building in the Val-de-Marne area early in the morning, apparently looking for the home of the head of Binance's French branch.
Investigators say they initially entered the wrong apartment and threatened the resident to ask for directions before finally finding the target home.
After entering the executive's house, the intruders searched the premises but left immediately after confirming he was not home. The suspects stole two mobile phones and fled.
Violence at the second mistaken target
About two hours later, authorities in the adjacent Hauts-de-Seine region received reports of another attack. This time the location was Vaucresson.
A woman reported that several masked men broke into her home, and one of them shot her with a firearm.
Subsequently, police confirmed that the stolen mobile phone was captured in the same location, and surveillance camera footage showed the suspects using the same vehicle, linking this incident to the previous break-in.
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According to witness statements, they seemed to realize once again that they targeted the wrong address.
The victim stated that she heard the men mention a different address and the name of a cryptocurrency entrepreneur who actually lives nearby.
The attackers left the scene immediately.
Multi-agency tracking operation and arrest in Lyon
Thanks to a series of mistakes, investigators were able to quickly track the suspects.
Various local police units, including the robbery special squad and traffic police, collaborated to closely monitor their movement routes through the public transport network.
Eventually, the three men boarded a train to Lyon, and local special police units had been warned in advance.
They were arrested as soon as they arrived at Lyon Perrache station and were handed over for custody for questioning.
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