In brief – Six suspects allegedly targeted the wife of Sébastien Borget, co-founder and COO of The Sandbox, at their home in Villenoy, Seine-et-Marne, this week. – Two teenagers were arrested in connection with the incident, while four other suspects remain at large. – The…
cident adds to France’s surge in crypto-targeted violence, with 135 kidnapping attempts recorded since 2023. The wife of Sébastien Borget, co-founder of metaverse gaming platform The Sandbox, was targeted in a kidnapping attempt at their French home this week, according to reports in local media
Per police sources cited in Le Journal de Dimanche, one individual approached the Borget residence in Villenoy, Seine-et-Marne disguised as a deliveryman and carrying a cardboard box. When Borget’s wife opened the gate, five accomplices rushed into the courtyard and attempted to drag her into a Citroën C3, only abandoning the kidnap attempt when neighbors intervened. Two teenagers were arrested in connection with the alleged kidnapping attempt, identified as Mateo V., born in 2010, and Walid H., born in 2009, both from Pantin in Seine-Saint-Denis.
Authorities allegedly discovered the pair carrying a fake handgun, zip-tie restraints, and balaclavas at the time of their arrest. Four others suspected of participating in the incident remain at large. In a tweet, Borget said he was “truly touched” by the messages of support he had received in the wake of the incident, adding, “Thank you for the outpouring of love, thoughtful messages, and deeply caring words for my family.” 💙 Thank you for the outpouring of love, thoughtful messages, and deeply caring words for my family.