Two suspects in the daring daylight theft of valuable artifacts from the Louvre Museum in Paris have been apprehended near the city. The Paris prosecutor announced on October 26 that the arrests took place just as one of the men was preparing to board a flight to Algeria from Charles de Gaulle Airport.
According to a report by Le Parisien, the two men, both in their 30s and hailing from the Seine-Saint-Denis suburb of Paris, were already known to law enforcement. However, the prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, did not disclose the number of individuals arrested or further details about their identities. She expressed concern over leaks regarding the arrests, emphasizing the potential negative impact of this information on ongoing investigations.
Beccuau stated, “This revelation can only hinder the investigative efforts of the 100 or so mobilized investigators, both in the search for the stolen jewelry and for all the perpetrators. It is too early to provide any specific details.”
The audacious heist took place on October 19 when thieves made off with eight priceless pieces, valued at approximately $102 million. They executed their plan by using a crane to smash a window on the upper floor of the museum during its operating hours and fled the scene on motorbikes. This incident has sparked a significant debate within France about security measures, with many viewing the robbery as a national embarrassment.
As investigations continue, authorities are hopeful that these arrests will lead to further breakthroughs in recovering the stolen treasures and apprehending additional suspects involved in this high-profile crime.