French authorities have uncovered a kidnapping plot targeting 26 celebrities, including Real Madrid footballer Kylian Mbappe, along with rappers and wealthy businessmen. The alleged plot was reportedly orchestrated by an 18-year-old identified as Clement L., who is currently in pre-trial detention.
According to French newspaper Le Parisien, authorities discovered the addresses of the targeted individuals on phones seized from the gang leader. The source close to the investigation stated that the phones' contents were "highly revealing" and indicated the gang leader's intent to target Mbappe and other wealthy figures, including a Chinese businessman, jewelers, and a Turkish meat trader.
The alleged gang leader, who had previously been jailed for armed robbery, was reportedly issuing orders from his prison cell using two mobile phones under the alias Lester Z. He was identified as one of two individuals involved in an attack on a watchmaker in Paris.
During questioning, the teenager denied being the mastermind behind the plot and requested to be released from solitary confinement. He mentioned he had dropped out of school while studying for a vocational cooking qualification and expressed a desire to resume his studies and become a chef. However, the court ruled that he must remain in solitary confinement as the investigation proceeds.