"French authorities have arrested five suspects after a magistrate and her mother were held captive last week for around 30 hours in a cryptocurrency ransom plot, prosecutors said on Sunday. Four men and one woman were detained, three overnight and two on Sunday morning, Lyon prosecutor Thierry Dran told AFP. The individuals were taken into custody following the discovery of the 35-year-old magistrate and her 67-year-old mother on Friday morning, found injured in a garage in the southeastern Drome region."
"Two of those arrested overnight were detained as they attempted to take a bus to Spain, according to a source close to the case speaking on condition of anonymity. Authorities continue to actively search for further suspects, a second source close to the case said, adding that the woman in custody is the partner of one of the four male suspects."
"The captors threatened to mutilate the victims if the transfer was not made quickly, Dran told reporters, declining to specify the amount demanded. But the two women managed to free themselves and call for help, banging on the garage door. "Alerted by the noise, a neighbour intervened. He was able to open the door and allow our two victims to escape," Dran said."
Five suspects — four men and one woman — have been arrested after a 35-year-old magistrate and her 67-year-old mother were held captive for about 30 hours in southeastern Drome. The victims were found injured in a garage and rescued without any ransom being paid after they freed themselves and alerted a neighbour. Kidnappers demanded a cryptocurrency ransom and threatened to mutilate the victims if payment was not made quickly. A massive police search involving 160 officers followed after the magistrate's partner, who holds a senior position in a cryptocurrency start-up, received a message and photo. Authorities continue searching for additional suspects; two detainees were stopped attempting to travel to Spain.
Read at The Local France
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