French law enforcement agencies have reported the arrest of two suspects in connection with a major theft at the world's most famous museum, the Louvre, a week ago, as reported by bbc.com, and this information has been confirmed by the Paris prosecutor's office.
Officials are not yet disclosing the number of detainees, but according to preliminary information, one of them was detained at the "Paris-Charles de Gaulle" airport while preparing to fly abroad. He was apprehended a few hours after his accomplice. Later, the second suspect was arrested in the Saint-Saint-Denis suburb of Paris.
According to sources, both individuals were already on a police watchlist and were suspected of being involved in criminal activity. According to AFP, one of the suspects was about to board a flight to Algeria.
It should be recalled that the brazen robbery at the Louvre occurred last Sunday during the day. The criminals entered the museum via a staircase, got inside by cutting through a window pane, opened pre-identified metal safes containing valuable artifacts, and fled with them.
The robbery lasted a mere eight minutes and involved four masked individuals. Two of them entered the building, while the others acted as lookouts outside. Investigators suspect that this crime was well-planned and carried out professionally.
Regarding this, Paris Prosecutor Laura Beccua responded to a BBC inquiry on Saturday, stating:
"I confirm that investigators carried out the arrests on the evening of October 25th. One of the suspects was attempting to leave the country. The investigation is currently at an active stage, and the interrogation process could last up to 96 hours."
The prosecutor expressed regret that investigation details had reached the public so early, emphasizing that this situation could negatively impact the investigative work:
"It is too early to provide additional details. The disclosure of this information complicates the work of the investigators," she said.
It is known that among the stolen items are diamond and precious stone-encrusted crowns, diadems, and pearls dating back to the 19th century, belonging to Napoleon Bonaparte and his family members. They are estimated to have a total value of 88 million euros (approximately 102 million dollars).
Some experts believe that the thieves may have already disassembled the items—meaning the stones and metals were taken separately—and there is a possibility they will be sold at a price lower than their historical value.
The French Minister of Justice described this incident as a major blow to the country's cultural heritage and acknowledged that the security protocols at the museum were insufficient.
Meanwhile, two items—including a crown belonging to Empress Eugénie—were found near the crime scene. It is possible the thieves dropped or lost them during their escape.
The investigation is still ongoing. The French press has dubbed this incident the "heist of the century"—because it is considered a huge loss not only financially, but also culturally and historically.
