French authorities have arrested two men in connection with last week’s daring theft of precious crown jewels from the Louvre Museum, according to reports from local media.
The suspects, reportedly from the Seine-Saint-Denis suburb of Paris, were detained on Saturday evening. One of them was allegedly preparing to board a flight at Charles de Gaulle Airport when arrested.
Both are known to police for prior burglary offences. Specialist investigators are handling the case and may hold the suspects for up to 96 hours for questioning.
The theft occurred last Sunday in broad daylight, when a group of four thieves used power tools to break into the Louvre shortly after it opened to visitors at 09:30 local time.
They accessed the Galerie d’Apollon via a balcony overlooking the River Seine, using a vehicle-mounted lift to reach a first-floor window. Photographs from the scene show the ladder positioned against the window, which the intruders cut open before entering.
Once inside, the thieves reportedly threatened museum guards, who evacuated the area, and broke the glass of two display cases containing the valuable jewels.
French media reports indicate that one in three rooms in the targeted section lacked CCTV coverage. The thieves were inside for only four minutes and escaped on two waiting scooters.
France’s Justice Minister has acknowledged lapses in museum security, describing the incident as a “failure” that has left the country with a “terrible image.” In response, security at cultural institutions across France has been significantly tightened.
The Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office has been contacted for further comment as the investigation continues.
