Paris:
A shopkeeper in Paris has gained recognition as a hero for intervening when a masked gang attempted to kidnap the daughter of a French cryptocurrency businessman. He acted quickly, rushing towards the assailant with a fire extinguisher.
On Tuesday, French authorities began an investigation into the incident, which the local media reported involved a woman believed to be the daughter of a leader in the crypto sector. This event marks the third such attack on figures in the French cryptocurrency industry in recent months, underscoring the rising danger faced by affluent entrepreneurs in this field.
A social media video that went viral depicts three masked individuals struggling with a woman and her husband on the ground near a waiting van. The husband then charges at the attacker with the fire extinguisher before retreating to the van, where he throws the extinguisher at the vehicle as it heads off.
Passersby applauded the individual, identified only as Nabil, who later spoke with Reuters outside his bike shop in the 11th arrondissement of Paris. Comments from the crowd ranged from cheers to expressions of gratitude.
“You’re a champion,” one woman exclaimed, while another man shouted his thanks from across the street. “That’s kind,” Nabil responded.
Nabil mentioned he was familiar with the couple, praising the husband for his bravery. “He took a lot of hits but never let go of his wife,” he said, suggesting that the attackers may have realized they faced a tough challenge and decided to back down. “I think that’s what made them give up. It’s more than just the fire extinguisher,” he added.
Reflecting on his actions, Nabil explained he grabbed the fire extinguisher in a state of panic, unsure of what to do with it but hopeful that it would help end the altercation. “I rushed with that object, but I didn’t really know what I was doing. But I feel that it ended the situation, so I achieved my goal,” he remarked.
