Two men have been arrested in connection with the daring daytime robbery that saw thieves steal royal jewels worth over $102 million from the Louvre Museum in Paris.
French prosecutors confirmed that one suspect was detained while preparing to board a flight from Charles de Gaulle Airport, reportedly bound for Algeria, while another was stopped en route to Mali. The arrests were made Saturday evening, nearly a week after the high-profile heist that embarrassed French authorities and prompted a nationwide review of museum security.
According to French media, DNA found at the scene helped investigators identify one of the suspects. Police say the group used a vehicle-mounted mechanical lift to reach a first-floor balcony leading to the Gallery of Apollo, where they broke through a window with power tools before threatening guards and smashing two display cases. The gang escaped on scooters within minutes.
Two arrested in connection with Louvre heist
The Louvre heist left French officials scrambling to explain how one of the world’s most secure institutions could be breached in broad daylight. Justice Minister Éric Dupond-Moretti admitted that “security protocols failed,” calling the event a “terrible image” for France.
A preliminary report revealed that one in three rooms in the targeted area had no CCTV coverage, and the only exterior camera nearby was pointed away from the balcony. Museum director Laurence des Cars told French senators that surveillance systems around the site were “aging,” leaving staff unable to detect the thieves in time.
Among the stolen items were a diamond-encrusted tiara once worn by Empress Eugénie, the Marie-Louise necklace, and a pair of emerald earrings — eight pieces in total. Experts now fear the jewels may already have been melted down or broken apart, making recovery nearly impossible.
In the wake of the robbery, the Louvre has transferred its most valuable pieces to a secure underground vault at the Bank of France as investigators continue to track the stolen treasures.
‘They Complained, Then Left With the Best Exclusivity Deal of All Time’ – The Story of PS2’s Blockbuster GTA Deal