Visitors return to the Louvre in Paris after jewelry heist
The Louvre Museum in Paris has reopened following the theft of a priceless royal crown as eager visitors lined up to see the Mona Lisa.
The Paris public prosecutor’s office announced the arrest of multiple suspects in connection with the brazen theft of the Crown Jewels from the Louvre Museum in Paris, a week after thieves stole millions of dollars worth of historic jewelry.
French newspaper Le Parisien first reported that two men in their 30s from the outskirts of the French capital, Seine-Saint-Denis, were arrested on October 25.
Paris prosecutor Laure Becuau said one of the suspects was preparing to fly out of the country from Charles de Gaulle airport at the time of his arrest.
Le Parisien and French television station BFMTV reported that two suspects were taken into custody. However, Bequo did not confirm these reports or provide additional details about the suspect or whether the jewelry had been recovered.
In a statement, Bequo expressed dissatisfaction that information about his arrest had been leaked.
“This revelation will only hinder the investigative efforts of the approximately 100 investigators who have been mobilized to search for the stolen jewels and to find all the perpetrators. It is too early to reveal specific details,” Bequo said.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez praised the arrests by investigators, saying they were “working tirelessly” and had “full confidence” in them.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Nuñez said, “We approach with the same determination!! We will keep moving forward!!”
On October 19, thieves stole eight pieces of jewelry worn by 19th-century French royalty, valued at an estimated $102 million, before fleeing on motorbikes in a seven-minute broad daylight raid. The robbers climbed a ladder to a second-floor balcony and used tools to break through a window and enter the Apollo Gallery, where they broke a glass display case and stole jewelry.
The stolen jewelry included a sapphire jewelry set earrings and necklace, an emerald-encrusted necklace and earrings, and two tiaras that belonged to Queen Marie Amélie and Queen Hortense, stepdaughters of Napoleon I.
News of the attack sparked worldwide criticism of the museum’s lack of security. The director of the Louvre said the museum’s cameras failed to detect the robbers and there were not enough cameras monitoring the area around the museum.
Contributed by: Reuters; Nguyen, USA TOD
