Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
New Delhi: The French police have arrested five additional suspects in connection with the audacious Louvre heist that stunned Paris earlier this month, the city’s public prosecutor confirmed on Thursday.
The arrests, made late on Wednesday night across the Paris region, included a key suspect believed to have played a major role in the daylight robbery, according to prosecutor Laure Beccuau’s office, the BBC reported. The move comes just a day after two men already in custody “partially recognised” their involvement in the theft, which saw four masked intruders make off with jewels worth an estimated €88 million (Rs 780 crore) from the world-renowned museum.
Notably, despite multiple arrests, the very precious jewellery remains missing.
Authorities believe the newly detained individuals may be linked to the same four-man crew caught on CCTV during the raid. While one suspect remains at large, Beccuau said forensic teams were now examining DNA found at the scene, which could be tied to one of the latest arrestees.
“It is not clear what role the other four newly arrested people allegedly played in the theft,” Beccuau told French radio RTL. However, she added that they “may eventually inform us about how the incident took place”.
The prosecutor reiterated that the investigation remains ongoing and hinted that the network behind the heist could extend beyond those who physically carried out the burglary. The five suspects can be held for up to four days before prosecutors must decide whether to charge or release them.
The spectacular robbery unfolded on October 19, when four men used a stolen mechanical lift to access the Louvre’s famed Galerie d’Apollon, home to some of France’s most treasured crown jewels. Arriving just after the museum opened, they smashed open display cases with a disc cutter, grabbing several priceless pieces before fleeing on two waiting scooters. The entire operation lasted just four minutes.
Beccuau revealed earlier this week that one of the initial suspects had been arrested while attempting to board a one-way flight to Algeria, while the other had remained in France despite speculation he was planning to flee. Both men, said to be in their thirties with previous criminal records, are suspected of operating the power tools used during the break-in.
“There was no evidence at this stage to suggest the theft was an inside job,” Beccuau told reporters, confirming that no museum employees were involved.
No injuries were reported during the raid, but the loss of the jewels (still missing) has prompted widespread concern over the protection of France’s cultural assets. In response, the Louvre has since moved some of its most valuable items to the Bank of France, where they are now being safeguarded 26 metres below ground in one of the country’s most secure vaults.
