Mbappe linked to alleged kidnapping plot targeting 26 wealthy figures
Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has reportedly been identified as one of 26 targets in an alleged kidnapping plot uncovered by French authorities.
An 18-year-old man, identified as Clément L, has been arrested and accused of masterminding a criminal network allegedly targeting wealthy footballers, rappers and business figures.
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According to French newspaper Le Parisien, Clément allegedly ran the operation through Snapchat under the alias “Lester Z” while serving a prison sentence for pimping and armed robbery.
Investigators reportedly discovered addresses and personal information relating to 26 potential victims after examining two mobile phones linked to the teenager.
Mbappe, whose fortune has been estimated at around £200m, was reportedly the most prominent name on the list.
Police investigation uncovers alleged network
The investigation reportedly began after two men allegedly armed with handguns robbed a watchmaker’s shop in Paris in May.
The suspects escaped on a scooter with 11 luxury watches valued at approximately £128,000. One of the men was arrested around 30 minutes later after crashing the scooter into a truck, while another suspect was detained shortly afterwards.
The investigation subsequently led authorities to Clément and another alleged accomplice.
French prosecutors have described the teenager as a serious criminal suspect, pointing to his previous convictions for drug-related offences and violent robbery.
“This young man was already in prison for serious offenses, and now he is turning up in a new case involving a rapper and a renowned footballer,” the Advocate General told the court.
“Only solitary confinement in prison can make him understand the reality of the situation, given the chaotic, criminal life he leads.”
Clément reportedly left school while studying for a vocational qualification in cooking.
Teenager denies being mastermind
Despite the allegations, Clément has denied being the person in charge of the alleged network.
During questioning, he reportedly claimed he acted only as an intermediary between an unidentified boss and the individuals who allegedly carried out criminal acts.
“I know the offences are serious,” he told the court.
The teenager also criticised his detention conditions, saying he was being held in solitary confinement alongside prisoners he described as “madmen and terrorists”.
“I really want to become a chef; it’s been a dream of mine since I was very young,” he added.
The allegations involving Mbappe and the other potential targets remain part of the ongoing investigation. No claim has been established as fact against the footballer or any of the other people reportedly identified by investigators.