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Libya Review
2 days ago
- Politics
- Libya Review
France & UK Call on Libya to Investigate Attacks on Diplomatic Staff
Foreign diplomatic missions in Libya have found themselves increasingly exposed to the country's volatile security environment, as recent armed clashes in Tripoli brought their operations directly into the line of fire. Both the French Embassy and a British diplomatic convoy came under attack in separate incidents amid ongoing power struggles between rival security groups aligned with or opposed to the interim Libyan government. According to French media, the French Embassy in Tripoli was hit four times by mortar fire on May 14, during some of the fiercest clashes the city has seen this year. The shelling, which occurred while embassy personnel were on site, caused structural damage and struck mere centimeters from staff areas, as confirmed by senior diplomatic officials. The ambassador's residence was also targeted, with one shell damaging its main gate. Despite the attack, French diplomatic operations continue, shielded by elite security personnel from the GIGN. However, officials acknowledge that the risks remain high, and contingency evacuation plans via air, land, or sea are in place. Since 2011, the French mission has evacuated Libya on three separate occasions due to instability. BFMTV, which documented embassy security operations on the ground, reported growing concern within French diplomatic circles about the vulnerability of foreign missions in Tripoli, especially as armed groups remain highly active and loosely regulated. While French officials did not conclusively state that the embassy was intentionally targeted, the nature of the attack raises significant questions about motive and the safety of diplomatic personnel. In a separate incident in June, a British diplomatic convoy was ambushed while returning from Mitiga Airport. The attack occurred in the Qargour district, where a group in a white Toyota Land Cruiser deliberately struck the convoy and opened fire. Although two vehicles were damaged, all British staff escaped unharmed. The embassy later ruled out an attempted kidnapping but denounced the incident as a severe threat to diplomatic security. The United Kingdom has demanded an official explanation from Libyan authorities and called for a full investigation. The attack comes amid wider concerns about the proliferation of armed groups in Tripoli and the deteriorating ability of the state to control them or protect international missions. These events coincide with the United States raising its travel advisory for Libya to Level 4, the highest category, citing heightened risks from terrorism, armed conflict, crime, and the possibility of sudden outbreaks of violence. The advisory warns of threats including kidnappings for ransom or political leverage, and underscores the danger of unexploded ordnance and limited emergency support. Tags: ClashesEmbassyfrancelibyatripoliUK
1News
06-05-2025
- 1News
Kidnappers target crypto entrepreneurs for ransom in France
French police rescued the father of a wealthy cryptocurrency entrepreneur in a nighttime raid after he was taken hostage for ransom, the latest alleged criminal effort in France to extort people involved in the management of digital assets. The man was kidnapped Thursday morning in Paris (local time), the prosecutor's office said. 'The victim turned out to be the father of a man who made his fortune in cryptocurrencies, and the incident was accompanied by a ransom demand,' its statement said, without giving their names or other specifics about their identities. Police investigators located the hostage in a house in the Essonne region south of Paris, from which he was rescued on Saturday night (local time), the prosecutor's office said. It said he was treated for injuries but gave no details. French media reported that the alleged hostage-takers cut off one of the man's fingers. Police detained five people — four were in or close to the house where the man was held captive, while the fifth was at the wheel of a vehicle thought to have been used for the alleged abduction, the prosecutor's office said. It said the police investigation is looking at an array of possible criminal charges, including kidnapping 'with torture or a barbaric act.' In January, police said a co-founder of French crypto-wallet firm Ledger, David Balland, was also kidnapped with his wife from their home in the region of Cher of central France. Police said they made 10 arrests and that the alleged kidnappers demanded a ransom in cryptocurrency from another of Ledger's co-founders. A raid by France's elite National Gendarmerie Intervention Group unit that specialises in hostage situations freed Balland the next day, followed the day after that by the liberation, again by the GIGN, of his wife, found tied up in a vehicle, police said.
Euronews
05-05-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Kidnappers target crypto entrepreneur's father for ransom in France
ADVERTISEMENT Police in France rescued the father of a wealthy cryptocurrency entrepreneur in a nighttime raid after he was taken hostage for ransom. It's the latest alleged criminal effort in the country to extort people involved in the management of digital assets. The man was kidnapped on Thursday morning in Paris, the prosecutor's office said on Sunday. Related A slice of Apple in Paris: Inside crypto company Ledger's new multi-million euro HQ "The victim turned out to be the father of a man who made his fortune in cryptocurrencies, and the incident was accompanied by a ransom demand," its statement said, without giving their names or other specifics about their identities. Police investigators located the hostage in a house in the Essonne region south of Paris, from which he was rescued on Saturday night, the prosecutor's office said. Five suspects seized by police It said he was treated for injuries but gave no details. French media reported that the alleged hostage-takers cut off one of the man's fingers. Police detained five people - four were in or close to the house where the man was held captive, while the fifth was at the wheel of a vehicle thought to have been used for the alleged abduction, the prosecutor's office said. Related Should European banks consider holding cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin as a reserve asset? It said the police investigation is looking at an array of possible criminal charges, including kidnapping "with torture or a barbaric act". In January, police said a co-founder of French crypto-wallet firm Ledger, David Balland, was also kidnapped with his wife from their home in the region of Cher, central France. Police said they made 10 arrests and that the alleged kidnappers demanded a ransom in cryptocurrency from another of Ledger's co-founders. A raid by France's elite National Gendarmerie Intervention Group unit that specialises in hostage situations freed Balland the next day, followed the day after that by the liberation, again by the GIGN, of his wife, found tied up in a vehicle, police said.
Euronews
05-05-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Kidnappers target cryptocurrency entrepreneur's father for ransom in France
ADVERTISEMENT Police in France rescued the father of a wealthy cryptocurrency entrepreneur in a nighttime raid after he was taken hostage for ransom. It's the latest alleged criminal effort in the country to extort people involved in the management of digital assets. The man was kidnapped on Thursday morning in Paris, the prosecutor's office said on Sunday. Related A slice of Apple in Paris: Inside crypto company Ledger's new multi-million euro HQ "The victim turned out to be the father of a man who made his fortune in cryptocurrencies, and the incident was accompanied by a ransom demand," its statement said, without giving their names or other specifics about their identities. Police investigators located the hostage in a house in the Essonne region south of Paris, from which he was rescued on Saturday night, the prosecutor's office said. Five suspects seized by police It said he was treated for injuries but gave no details. French media reported that the alleged hostage-takers cut off one of the man's fingers. Police detained five people - four were in or close to the house where the man was held captive, while the fifth was at the wheel of a vehicle thought to have been used for the alleged abduction, the prosecutor's office said. Related Should European banks consider holding cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin as a reserve asset? It said the police investigation is looking at an array of possible criminal charges, including kidnapping "with torture or a barbaric act". In January, police said a co-founder of French crypto-wallet firm Ledger, David Balland, was also kidnapped with his wife from their home in the region of Cher, central France. Police said they made 10 arrests and that the alleged kidnappers demanded a ransom in cryptocurrency from another of Ledger's co-founders. A raid by France's elite National Gendarmerie Intervention Group unit that specialises in hostage situations freed Balland the next day, followed the day after that by the liberation, again by the GIGN, of his wife, found tied up in a vehicle, police said.
Business Mayor
05-05-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
Father of cryptocurrency entrepreneur ‘had finger chopped off' after being kidnapped for ransom
On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents French police rescued the father of a wealthy cryptocurrency entrepreneur in a nighttime raid after he was taken hostage for ransom, the latest alleged criminal effort in France to extort people involved in the management of digital assets. The man was kidnapped Thursday morning in Paris, the prosecutor's office said Sunday. 'The victim turned out to be the father of a man who made his fortune in cryptocurrencies, and the incident was accompanied by a ransom demand,' its statement said, without giving their names or other specifics about their identities. Police investigators located the hostage in a house in the Essonne region south of Paris, from which he was rescued on Saturday night, the prosecutor's office said. It said he was treated for injuries but gave no details. French media reported that the alleged hostage-takers cut off one of the man's fingers. Police detained five people — four were in or close to the house where the man was held captive, while the fifth was at the wheel of a vehicle thought to have been used for the alleged abduction, the prosecutor's office said. It said the police investigation is looking at an array of possible criminal charges, including kidnapping 'with torture or a barbaric act.' In January, police said a co-founder of French crypto-wallet firm Ledger, David Balland, was also kidnapped with his wife from their home in the region of Cher of central France. Read More Why Block Stock Is Rising Today Police said they made 10 arrests and that the alleged kidnappers demanded a ransom in cryptocurrency from another of Ledger's co-founders. A raid by France's elite National Gendarmerie Intervention Group unit that specializes in hostage situations freed Balland the next day, followed the day after that by the liberation, again by the GIGN, of his wife, found tied up in a vehicle, police said.
