French authorities have arrested five individuals, including a woman, in connection with a kidnapping case involving a local judge and her mother in Grenoble. The prosecutor's office in Lyon reported that the two women were found injured and bound in a garage in Bourg-les-Valence after being held captive for approximately 30 hours. Their abduction occurred early on Thursday morning at the judge's home in Saint-Martin-le-Vinoux, a suburb of Grenoble.

The victims, a 35-year-old judge and her 66-year-old mother, were targeted by a group of attackers who reportedly aimed to collect a ransom in cryptocurrency. The judge's partner, who is involved in a specialized cryptocurrency company, was not present during the kidnapping but was alerted to the situation when he received a message from the kidnappers demanding ransom alongside a photograph of the judge. The urgency of the demands included threats to mutilate the victims should the ransom not be paid quickly, highlighting the seriousness of the crime.

The investigation into the kidnapping is ongoing, with authorities piecing together the details surrounding the motives and the identities of the suspects. This incident raises significant concerns regarding the increasing trend of ransom kidnappings for cryptocurrency, and the implications for security among professionals involved in such financial sectors, particularly in vulnerable domestic settings. It also underscores the risks judicial figures face in their personal lives due to their roles in the legal system.