French authorities have arrested at least two suspects following a daring daylight heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris, where priceless royal jewels were stolen in a meticulously planned robbery.
The theft occurred last Sunday morning at around 9:30am local time, when four thieves armed with power tools broke into the museum’s Galerie d’Apollon — the gallery that houses the remnants of the French crown jewels. Within minutes, they smashed display cases, seized nine historic pieces of jewellery, and escaped on a scooter.
According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, one suspect was arrested at Charles de Gaulle Airport as he prepared to leave for Algeria, while another was apprehended in Seine-Saint-Denis, north of the capital. Authorities have not ruled out further arrests as the investigation continues.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described the robbery as a “major theft” involving jewels of “genuine heritage value and priceless cultural significance.” Among the stolen items were a tiara and necklace belonging to Queen Marie-Amelie and Queen Hortense, an emerald necklace and earrings from Empress Marie Louise’s collection, and a brooch known as the “reliquary brooch.”
Also missing are the tiara and large corsage bow brooch of Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III. The Empress Eugénie brooch alone contains over 2,400 diamonds, while the tiara from the two queens’ sapphire set features 24 sapphires and more than 1,000 diamonds.
French Culture Minister Rachida Dati confirmed that the entire operation lasted less than four minutes. “No violence, very professional,” she said, describing the thieves’ movements as calm and calculated, based on CCTV footage of the robbery.
The Louvre was closed to visitors on the day of the heist for what officials called “exceptional reasons.” The museum, which typically attracts tens of thousands of visitors each day, has since reopened under heightened security.
Investigators continue to search for the remaining suspects and the stolen jewels, described as priceless both for their material value and their deep ties to French royal history.
