Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé was among the highest-profile people allegedly targeted by a French criminal network suspected of planning kidnappings and attacks against footballers, rappers and wealthy business figures, according to a report by Le Parisien.
The investigation centers on an 18-year-old French-Swiss suspect identified as Clément L., who is already serving a prison sentence at Villepinte prison in the Seine-Saint-Denis department over involvement in armed robbery and procuring.
Kylian Mbappé
(Photo: Oz Moalem)
According to the report, investigators suspect that Clément continued directing criminal activity from behind bars through Snapchat under the alias “Lester Z.”
Authorities reportedly traced the network after an attack on a watchmaker in Neuilly-sur-Seine in April.
Phones linked to the suspect allegedly contained addresses and details of numerous people marked as possible targets. The list included singers, footballers and wealthy businesspeople.
Among those reportedly identified were a Chinese wholesaler in Paris’ 19th arrondissement, jewelry business owners and a Turkish meat wholesaler in the Val-d’Oise department.
Mbappé was one of the most prominent names to emerge from the investigation.
A judicial source quoted by Le Parisien said the suspect “also wanted to target a rapper and footballer Kylian Mbappé.”
There is no indication that an attempt was carried out against the Real Madrid and France star. His name appeared among alleged potential targets rather than in connection with an executed kidnapping attempt.
Investigators are examining whether the suspect continued coordinating criminal activity remotely from prison and whether the network was preparing attacks or abductions against several people whose personal information was allegedly found on devices connected to him.
The appearance of Mbappé’s name on the list highlights the profile of the people investigators believe may have been targeted by the group, which allegedly focused on wealthy and prominent figures.