The bold, multimillion-dollar jewelry theft that rocked the Louvre Museum in Paris has resulted in arrests, according to French investigators. A major development in an inquiry that has drawn attention from all over the world was verified by the Paris prosecutor.
Who Are the Suspects and How Were They Caught?
According to the Paris prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, arrests were made on Saturday evening. While the prosecutor’s statement did not confirm the exact number, French media outlets Le Parisien and AFP reported that two men were taken into custody. One suspect was reportedly apprehended at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport just as he was about to board a flight to Algeria. The second suspect, who was reportedly preparing to escape to Mali, was apprehended shortly after in the Paris area. Both men are said to be in their 30s, from the Seine-Saint-Denis area, and known to police.
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What Are the Official Reactions to the Arrests?
The arrests were carried out by France’s specialized police antigang brigade. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez praised the investigators in a social media post, offering his “warmest congratulations” for their tireless work. He urged them to “keep going” while respecting the confidentiality of the inquiry. However, Prosecutor Beccuau criticized the early release of information to the media, saying it could make it harder to recover the stolen jewels and catch the others involved.
What Was the Scale of the Louvre Theft?
The heist, which occurred on October 19, was a brazen daylight robbery that forced the museum to close. Intruders used a four-minute window to steal eight pieces of priceless jewellery. The thieves exploited a security blind spot by climbing the extendable ladder of a parked truck, cutting into a first-floor gallery, and fleeing on scooters. Although they dropped one crown during their escape, they successfully made off with historic pieces, including an emerald and diamond necklace gifted by Napoleon Bonaparte to his wife, Empress Marie Louise. The stolen goods are thought to be of incomparable cultural importance and are estimated to be worth $102 million.
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How Did the Investigation Lead to the Arrests?
The investigation has been intensive, involving dozens of detectives. Prosecutor Beccuau revealed that public and private security cameras were crucial in tracking the thieves’ movements “in Paris and in surrounding regions.” Furthermore, crime scene investigators collected dozens of DNA samples and fingerprints from the point of entry. The two arrested suspects are now in police custody on suspicion of organised theft and criminal conspiracy. It remains unconfirmed whether any of the stolen jewellery has been recovered.
