Two men have been arrested in France in connection with last week’s Louvre museum heist, where a four-man crew stole priceless jewels worth an estimated €88 million ($102 million) from one of the world’s most visited museums.
The arrests mark the first breakthrough in what authorities have described as one of the most audacious robberies in modern French history.
According to CNN, the suspects—both in their thirties and known to police—were detained on Saturday evening local time. One of the men was arrested at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport while allegedly attempting to leave France, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau confirmed.
The other was captured elsewhere in the capital. Two additional suspects remain at large, with French police continuing a nationwide manhunt.
The theft took place a week ago at the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery, which houses the French Crown Jewels and other historic treasures. Investigators say the thieves used a truck-mounted ladder to reach a window on the upper floor and broke into two display cases during a seven-minute operation.
They fled with nine items, including a diamond-and-sapphire tiara and necklace once worn by Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense.
The jewellery, which dates back to the 19th century, is considered part of France’s national heritage.
Prosecutor Beccuau said it was not yet clear whether any of the stolen pieces had been recovered.
“The investigation is ongoing, and the suspects are being questioned,” she told reporters.
Around 100 officers have been assigned to the case, supported by the French culture ministry and the national forensic service.
The Louvre’s director, Laurence des Cars, called the heist a “terrible failure,” acknowledging that the thieves had exploited security vulnerabilities. France’s Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin later admitted that several security lapses were under review.
“One can wonder about the fact that the windows hadn’t been properly secured, or that a basket lift was left on a public road,” Darmanin said in a radio interview, describing the incident as a “failure that must never happen again.”
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez praised the rapid progress of the investigation, saying the officers involved “worked tirelessly and with great professionalism.”
He added that further arrests were expected in the coming days.
The Louvre museum, located in central Paris, attracts nearly nine million visitors each year and is home to iconic works such as Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo. The Apollo Gallery, where the heist occurred, reopened in 2021 after major renovations and features some of the most valuable jewels in the museum’s collection.
As the investigation continues, security at the Louvre has been tightened, with additional patrols and reinforced perimeter checks.
Authorities say they are confident the remaining suspects will be located soon, and efforts to recover the stolen jewels are under way.
