Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the October 19 robbery at the Louvre, where jewelry of historical value was stolen.
As French media reported, new developments have occurred in the investigation. According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, a case has been opened against two people detained last week on charges of “organized theft” and “creating a criminal group for the purpose of committing a crime.”
Paris prosecutor Laure Becco said on RTL radio that at about 21:00 local time, five more suspects connected with the museum robbery were detained. Detentions took place in Paris and in the department of Seine-Saint-Denis, but the stolen jewelry has not yet been found.
Becco clarified that one of the five detainees was found with DNA samples linking him to the robbery of the Louvre, and, according to investigators, he is one of the four robbers who carried out the raid.
Theft in the Louvre
On October 19, in the morning, the Louvre is one of the most visited museums around the world, where about 35 thousand exhibits are on display, were infiltrated by intruders. In the Apollo Hall, where the royal jewels were kept, they stole nine items of “priceless” value. The crown of Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, which had fallen during the robbers’ escape, was later found damaged outside the building.
The heist lasted just seven minutes and the four criminals made off with eight pieces of jewelry.
A preliminary report from the Court of Auditors noted that the museum had “constantly” and “to a large extent” delayed the implementation of modern security systems, leading to vulnerability object.
The director of the Louvre Laurence de Cars, summoned to a hearing before the Senate Commission on Culture on October 22, admitted her responsibility for the incident and submitted her resignation to the Minister of Culture Rachida Dati, but she refused to accept it.
After the robbery, some of the exhibits, including jewelry, were moved to the Bank of France.
Two suspects arrested on October 25 partially admitted their participation during interrogation crime The total value of the stolen items is estimated at approximately 88 million euros.