French police on Sunday arrested two men in connection with last week’s audacious theft of historic crown jewels from the Louvre museum, authorities said, in a major break in an investigation that has drawn international attention.
According to prosecutors and police statements, the suspects both men in their 30s known to law enforcement were detained on Saturday evening. One was intercepted at Paris’s Charles de Gaulle airport as he prepared to fly to Algeria; the other was arrested in Seine-Saint-Denis and was reportedly planning to travel to Mali. Investigators said forensic evidence gathered at the museum helped identify the suspects.
The arrests relate to a dramatic daylight heist on Oct. 19 in which a small group of masked thieves used a lift basket to reach a balcony window above the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery, smashed their way in, and made off with eight jeweled pieces — historic coronation and imperial items in less than eight minutes, officials say. The stolen items have been valued by authorities at about €88 million (roughly $100–$102 million). Witnesses and video shared by investigators show the group escaping on motorbikes.
Part of the haul has since been recovered: French authorities reported that one of the most famous pieces, the emerald-set crown associated with Empress Eugénie, was later found damaged near the museum but assessed as repairable. Recovery efforts and the hunt for other suspects remain under way.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau and senior investigators have praised the progress but warned that the probe is ongoing and sensitive. Officials expressed frustration at media leaks about the arrests that they say could compromise elements of the investigation, which involves scores of investigators and specialized anti-gang units. Interior Ministry and Culture Ministry figures publicly commended the investigative teams while urging patience as officers pursue other leads.
The Louvre, formerly a royal palace and now the world’s most-visited museum — briefly closed parts of the site after the robbery and has since reopened with heightened security. The incident has prompted broad questions about museum safeguards and has triggered an international inquiry into how priceless cultural artifacts can be better protected.
English