French authorities have arrested two suspects linked to the Louvre Museum heist, just one week after the dramatic theft of priceless French Crown Jewels from the museum’s Apollo Gallery.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau confirmed the arrests in a statement on Sunday, saying that investigators from the Brigade de Répression du Banditisme (BRB), the country’s organized crime unit, conducted the operation on Saturday evening.
Beccuau declined to share further details, expressing frustration that French media leaks could jeopardize the ongoing investigation.
“This revelation can only hinder the investigative efforts of the 100 or so mobilised investigators, both in the search for the stolen jewellery and for all the perpetrators. It is too early to provide any specific details,” she said.
According to Le Monde, one suspect was arrested around 10 p.m. Saturday at a Paris airport as he attempted to board a flight to Algeria, while another was detained at an address in Paris reportedly preparing to flee to Mali.
Police sources cited by The Art Newspaper said both men had prior criminal records and were identified through DNA evidence, CCTV footage, and phone tracking. Authorities had been monitoring them closely in hopes of recovering the stolen jewels and locating their accomplices.
While the Louvre reopened last week, the Apollo Gallery, the scene of the theft, remains closed to visitors. Parts of the museum’s jewellery collection, including the remaining Crown Jewels and its most famous diamonds, have been moved to the Banque de France vaults for safekeeping, according to RTL.
