Two arrests in Louvre jewel heist case

Authorities have arrested two men suspected of taking part in a heist at the Louvre museum in Paris, in which a crew of four criminals made off with crown jewels worth an estimated €88 million ($157 million), according to French media.

Le Parisien reported the pair, aged around 30 and from the Seine-Saint-Denis area, were arrested on Saturday evening (Paris time).

Forensics officers at the scene.Credit: Getty Images

A Paris prosecutor said one of the men had been preparing to leave the country from Charles de Gaulle airport at the time of his arrest.

The daylight theft, which involved the use of a cherry-picker, power tools and getaway scooters, resulted in the loss of some of the most valuable and historically significant objects in France.

They included a brooch that had belonged to the Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III, as well as an emerald necklace and earrings once worn by Empress Marie Louise.

The heist prompted the Louvre to close for three days. French President Emmanuel Macron, who personally appoints the director of the museum, called for stronger security measures to be introduced rapidly.

Police officers examine a basket crane used by thieves.Credit: AP

The London Telegraph reported on Saturday that sources close to the investigation believed the looters had received “sensitive internal information about the museum’s security system” ahead of the crime.

More to come

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