Paris – French police put two suspects behind bars after a daring Louvre jewel robbery that shook the world Saturday.
The thieves stole treasures worth about €88 million (roughly $102 million) from the world’s most‑visited museum. Police say the men were caught just before the flight home: one was heading to Algeria, the other to Mali, authorities told local media.
The overnight break‑in began at 9:30 a.m. when four armed men arrived in a vehicle‑mounted lift. They forced their way into the Gallery of Apollo by cutting a first‑floor window, then used power tools to smash two glass cases. Six minutes later, guards fled; the thieves cut the glass and mercilessly threatened the staff before fleeing on scooters that had waited outside. The thieves left behind gloves, a high‑visibility jacket, and a drop of a crown that once belonged to Empress Éléonore (Napoleon III’s wife).
Police traced the case to the thieves by DNA found at the scene. The first suspect was arrested on the eve of his flight from Charles de Gaulle Airport, after police had stopped him at the check‑in desk. The second suspect was taken into custody later that evening in the Paris region, according to prosecutors.
The thieves exploited gaps in the museum’s surveillance. A preliminary report found that a third of the rooms in the targeted area had no CCTV cameras. The only exterior camera that captured the balcony break‑in was pointed the wrong way. “The guard details … were very weak,” museum director Laurence des Cars told senators, warning that the security team failed to spot the gang early enough.
Justice Minister Gérard Darmanin admitted that security protocols “failed,” and the incident has damaged France’s image. In response, authorities have tightened security at all cultural institutions across the country.
To protect the rest of its most precious gems, the Louvre moved a selection of jewels to the Bank of France’s vault, a 26‑meter‑deep, ultra‑secure facility under the bank’s headquarters in central Paris. The vault remains the nation’s safest place for valuable items.
As investigators hunt for the remaining stolen pieces, the Louvre authorities remain hopeful that the jewels can be recovered before they’re broken into pieces, a risk that experts warned could occur if the treasures are not secured swiftly. The Louvre, once again, is under scrutiny, but its managers promise to keep public exhibitions safe while safeguarding the nation’s cultural heritage.
Source: ianslive
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