French authorities have apprehended individuals suspected of involvement in the audacious theft from the Louvre Museum in Paris last weekend, an incident recognized as one of the most prominent heists in recent times.
According to Paris prosecutor Laure Beccau, arrests occurred on Saturday evening, with one suspect reportedly apprehended at Charles de Gaulle Airport while attempting to depart France. Beccau withheld specifics regarding the number of individuals arrested or whether the stolen items had been recovered.
Le Parisien, the initial outlet to report the development, stated that the alleged perpetrators were two men in their thirties, both hailing from the Seine-Saint-Denis suburb of Paris.
However, Beccau declined to corroborate these specific details, expressing disapproval of French media outlets for disclosing sensitive information pertaining to the ongoing investigation.
“Such disclosures,” Beccau stated, “can only impede the diligent work of approximately 100 investigators, hindering both the recovery of the stolen jewelry and the identification of all those responsible. It remains premature to offer any further specifics.”
France’s Interior Minister, Laurent Nunez, commended “the investigators for their relentless efforts, precisely as I had requested, and for consistently deserving my complete trust.”
The audacious theft, executed a week prior, sent shockwaves through France and captivated the attention of art enthusiasts globally.
Detectives indicate the perpetrators gained entry to and exited the museum in less than four minutes on Sunday morning, absconding with eight items from France’s revered Crown Jewels. Among the pilfered artifacts are emerald- and sapphire-adorned diadems, necklaces, and brooches previously gracing the wives of Napoleon Bonaparte and other 19th-century monarchs. Authorities peg the estimated worth of the collection at approximately $100 million.
Four individuals, masked and hooded, arrived on motor scooters, with two of them entering the museum through its Seine-facing facade around 9:30 a.m. local time, soon after opening. Ongoing construction work facilitated their entry, as a cherry picker granted them direct access to the Apollo Gallery jewel room on the first floor, situated less than 300 yards from the iconic Mona Lisa.
Officials disclosed that surveillance camera footage depicted the thieves entering “calmly” before shattering display cases holding the jewels. Dati confirmed there was “no violence” during the robbery, characterizing it as “very professional.”
This remains an unfolding situation.