Key facts
- Five men were convicted of false imprisonment in London.
- Two French cryptocurrency millionaires were held captive for 52 hours.
- The victims were subjected to torture and demanded $150,000.
- The victims transferred $30,000 to their captors.
- The attack and trial took place in the UK, though the victims were French.
Five men have been convicted in London for the false imprisonment and blackmail of two French cryptocurrency millionaires who were held captive for 52 hours. The victims were ambushed in Shadwell and taken to a flat in Canning Town, where they were stripped, bound, beaten, and had boiling water poured over them. Prosecutors described the ordeal as "cold, hard torture." The gang demanded $150,000, and the victims transferred $30,000. The prosecution suggested the victims' affluent lifestyles, widely shared on social media, may have attracted the attention of the perpetrators. Police were able to locate the flat through a phone left behind by one of the victims. While several defendants were convicted of false imprisonment and conspiracy to blackmail, others were cleared of charges including kidnap and sexual assault. One defendant admitted to dangerous driving after crashing the gang's car during a police pursuit. The alleged mastermind of the plot remains at large. The case was notable for securing convictions without victim testimony, as the victims were too afraid to testify. This incident highlights a broader trend of "wrench attacks" targeting crypto holders globally, with a significant number occurring in Europe.