Police in France have made arrests related to the recent theft of Napoleonic crown jewels from the Louvre Museum in Paris, an incident that has garnered significant attention. Prosecutor Laure Beccuau confirmed that suspects were apprehended on Saturday evening, with one being detained at Charles de Gaulle Airport while attempting to leave the country. However, details regarding the number of suspects and whether the stolen jewels have been recovered were not disclosed.
According to reports from Le Parisien, the suspects are two men in their 30s from the Seine-Saint-Denis suburb. Beccuau criticized French media for releasing information about the ongoing investigation, stating that such leaks could impede the efforts of approximately 100 investigators dedicated to the case.
The theft, which occurred a week ago, involved four masked individuals who executed the heist in under four minutes. They used motor scooters to arrive at the museum and gained access through a facade facing the Seine. Construction work near the museum provided them with a cherry picker to reach the Apollo Gallery, where the jewels were displayed. The stolen items include valuable diadems, necklaces, and brooches with an estimated collective value of $100 million.
Surveillance footage indicated that the thieves operated without violence, and France's Culture Minister Rachida Dati described their actions as "very professional." This incident has triggered scrutiny of security measures at the Louvre, with Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin acknowledging serious oversights in security protocols. The French government is now undergoing a full security review in light of this incident. President Emmanuel Macron has also expressed his commitment to recovering the stolen works and bringing those responsible to justice.