French Magistrate Abducted in Crypto Extortion Plot

The abduction occurred during the night of February 4–5, 2026, in Saint-Martin-le-Vinoux, near Grenoble. According to investigators, masked attackers broke into the home of a 35-year-old magistrate at around 3:00 a.m. The woman and her 67-year-old mother were overpowered, forced into the trunk of a car, and driven approximately 100 kilometers to Bourg-lès-Valence.

The victims were held for nearly 30 hours inside a garage, restrained and under constant threat, before managing to escape.

Crypto-Linked Ransom Demand

Authorities believe the motive was financial and directly linked to cryptocurrency. The magistrate was targeted because her partner holds a senior position at a cryptocurrency startup. Shortly after the kidnapping, the partner received a photograph of the two women along with a ransom demand of €1.6 million, payable in cryptocurrency.

The message reportedly included threats of severe physical harm if the transfer was not made quickly. No ransom was ultimately paid.

Escape and Medical Treatment

On February 6, the two women managed to free themselves from their restraints and began banging on the garage door and screaming for help. A nearby resident heard the commotion and alerted emergency services.

Both victims were hospitalized suffering from injuries and shock. Prosecutors said the magistrate sustained head injuries during the abduction.

Arrests and Suspects in Custody

Lyon prosecutor Thierry Dran confirmed that six suspects are currently being held in custody. Most of those arrested are between 18 and 20 years old. One of the suspects is a minor.

Two individuals were arrested while attempting to flee France by bus toward Spain. A woman taken into custody is believed to be the partner of one of the four male suspects. Investigators continue to examine the group’s roles and any wider criminal connections.

Rising Concern Over “Wrench Attacks”

The case adds to a growing list of so-called “wrench attacks” in France, where criminals resort to physical violence and kidnapping to extort cryptocurrency rather than relying on digital hacks.

In January 2026, a retired couple in Haute-Savoie was abducted after attackers discovered their son worked in the crypto sector, with a ransom demand of €8 million. A year earlier, in January 2025, a co-founder of hardware wallet firm Ledger was kidnapped, during which attackers severed one of his fingers before he was rescued.

French authorities have warned that individuals linked to the cryptocurrency industry are increasingly being targeted offline, underscoring the escalating security risks tied to digital wealth.

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