French justice detains teen accused of plotting Mbappé kidnapping
Durante treinamento, a camera captured Kylian Mbappé training at the Real Madrid complex when a Foto by Antonio Villalba/Real for Jogada10 was taken, and hours later an 18‑year‑old named Clément L. was formally charged by Justiça francesa in Nanterre for allegedly planning a kidnapping and assault on the French star.
Series of robberies and kidnapping plot
Um jovem de 18 anos, identified as Clément L., was formally accused on 21 August in Nanterre, suspected of participation in robberies carried out by an organised crime group. Le Parisien reported on Wednesday (2) that he is named as one of the perpetrators of a string of home burglaries and kidnapping plans between April and August, chiefly in Neuilly‑sur‑Seine. The investigation portrays him as the leader of the gang.
Police investigations accelerated after a botched attempt on 25 April at a watchmaker’s shop, when three men disguised as delivery personnel left an empty box at the victim’s door. The watchmaker, sensing something amiss, alerted authorities; the box later yielded fingerprints that helped identify the suspects weeks afterwards.
On 4 May, two armed men stormed a Paris watch shop, absconding with eleven luxury watches valued at roughly 150 000 euros. One of the suspects was apprehended a few hours later after crashing his car while fleeing the scene.
Coordination from Villepinte prison
Further inquiries revealed that Clément L. had coordinated part of the criminal actions from inside Villepinte prison, where he was already serving time for offences linked to rape and pimping. Seizure of his mobile phone uncovered a list of twenty‑six addresses belonging to well‑known individuals, including singers and footballers. Mbappé appeared among the names classified as high‑value financial targets.
The gang is believed to have intended to exploit a scheduled visit by the striker to Paris, planning to assault him during that trip.
During police questioning, the young suspect acknowledged that he knew the activities were illegal but denied being the primary organiser, insisting he acted only as an intermediary. He also disclosed that his personal ambition was to become a chef.
The French justice system has ordered Clément L. to remain in pre‑trial detention and in isolation while investigations proceed, aiming to clarify each participant’s role. A second suspect remains free under judicial control, and Os investigators continue to examine the evidence.