French authorities have uncovered a criminal plot targeting Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé for kidnapping and assault, after police found his name on a hit list compiled by an organized gang targeting prominent athletes, artists, and wealthy entrepreneurs.
According to Le Parisien, Clément L., an 18-year-old Franco-Swiss national using the alias “Lester Z,” was charged on August 21 in Nanterre with theft as part of an organized gang alongside an accomplice.
Authorities suspect him of coordinating a series of home invasions and kidnapping plots between April 11 and August 19 across Neuilly-sur-Seine, Saint-Brice-sous-Forêt, and Santeny—despite being incarcerated for organized robbery and procuring.
Investigators revealed that the suspect issued operational instructions from inside his cell at the Villepinte prison via Snapchat. Following the seizure of two mobile phones in his possession, investigators discovered detailed profiles and addresses for 26 potential targets, including Mbappé, a rapper, professional footballers, and business executives.
The ring began unraveling after an attack on a watchmaker in Neuilly-sur-Seine on April 25. Three individuals disguised as delivery workers left an empty box outside his home, raising his suspicions and prompting him to alert the police before the suspects fled.
Days later, two armed men raided the watchmaker’s boutique in Paris, stealing 11 luxury timepieces valued at approximately €150,000. One suspect was apprehended after crashing into a truck during the getaway, and forensic evidence from the empty package led investigators to the rest of the gang.
The hit list included jewelers, meat distributors, and high-net-worth individuals alongside Mbappé, though the report noted that the plot against the footballer had not advanced to the execution stage. Clément denies leading the operation, claiming he acted merely as an intermediary. He has been placed in solitary confinement while his accomplice was released under judicial supervision as investigations continue.
