Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the daring jewel theft from the Louvre Museum in Paris, French media reported. The suspects were apprehended following a high-profile investigation into the €88 million heist that shocked the world.
Authorities confirmed that one of the men was detained at Charles de Gaulle Airport as he prepared to board a flight, reportedly bound for Algeria. The other suspect was allegedly planning to travel to Mali. Both men are now in police custody and can be questioned for up to 96 hours by specialist investigators.
The spectacular daylight robbery occurred last Sunday, when four thieves armed with power tools broke into the Louvre—the world’s most visited museum. They entered the Galerie d’Apollon (Gallery of Apollo), home to priceless crown jewels, by using a vehicle-mounted lift to access a balcony overlooking the River Seine.
Once inside, the robbers threatened guards, who were forced to evacuate. The thieves then used power tools to break open two glass cases containing jewels, including a gold tiara once worn by Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, and the Marie-Louise necklace. In total, eight valuable pieces were taken before the gang escaped on scooters within just four minutes.
DNA evidence collected from gloves and a high-visibility jacket abandoned at the scene led investigators to one of the suspects. Reports also revealed that a dropped crown belonging to Empress Eugénie was recovered at the site.
France’s Justice Minister acknowledged that security systems had failed, calling it a “terrible image” for the nation. A preliminary investigation uncovered that one in three rooms in the raided section had no CCTV coverage. The only exterior camera pointing toward the museum wall was misaligned, failing to capture the suspects’ entry point.
Laurence des Cars, the Louvre’s director, told French senators that many of the museum’s surveillance systems were outdated, leaving key areas vulnerable.
In response to the heist, French authorities have intensified security at major museums and cultural landmarks. The Louvre has since moved several of its most valuable jewels to the Bank of France’s underground vault—26 meters below ground—to ensure maximum protection.
Experts fear, however, that the stolen pieces may already have been dismantled. Dutch art detective Arthur Brand warned that the gold and silver could be melted down and the gemstones cut into smaller pieces, making recovery nearly impossible.
The investigation remains ongoing as police continue their hunt for the remaining members of the heist team.
