In brief
In a breakthrough in the inquiry into the Louvre's jewellery heist, Paris prosecutors announced the arrest of four additional suspects, believed to be connected to a group of criminals responsible for the October theft. The new arrests include a mix of two men and two women aged between 31 and 40, one of whom is thought to be the last suspect in the gang. As the search for the stolen jewels, valued at €88 million, continues, security measures are being tightened around major cultural institutions in France.
Four people have been arrested as part of the ongoing investigation into the theft of valuable jewellery at the Louvre Museum last month, according to the Paris prosecutor’s office.
The latest arrests occurred on Tuesday, involving two men aged 38 and 39 and two women aged 31 and 40, all hailing from the Paris area. Reports suggest that one of the arrested may be the final member of a four-man gang responsible for the brazen daytime heist that took place on October 19, when jewels worth €88 million ($102 million) were stolen.
Authorities now have up to 96 hours to question the new suspects as the search for the missing treasures continues, with no leads on their whereabouts following the theft.
Earlier, four other individuals had already been charged concerning the robbery, including a 38-year-old woman charged with complicity in organized theft and a 37-year-old man charged with theft and conspiracy. Both defendants have denied involvement in the crime.
The heist was reportedly executed swiftly, with the criminals gaining entrance through a balcony using a mechanical lift and utilizing a disc cutter to break into the display cases. They managed to abscond with several precious items, including a crown from the era of Napoleon.
The Louvre's president acknowledged the museum's security lapses following the incident, leading to increased security measures across French cultural sites. In response to the theft, the Louvre has relocated some of its most valuable pieces to the Bank of France for safekeeping.
