Five more arrested as probe deepens into €88m Louvre jewellery heist
Story by Mercy Adaje
French authorities have arrested five additional suspects in connection with the daring €88 million jewellery theft at the Louvre Museum earlier this month, Paris’ public prosecutor announced.
The arrests were made on Wednesday night in the Paris region, according to Laure Beccuau’s office. Among those detained was a main suspect believed to be directly involved in the daylight robbery on 19 October, when four masked thieves broke into the museum’s Apollon Gallery and made off with priceless French crown jewels.
The arrests followed earlier detentions of two men who partially admitted to taking part in the heist. Beccuau told French radio RTL on Thursday that DNA evidence from one of the newly arrested suspects may link him to the crime scene. Investigators believe he could be one of the four men captured on CCTV during the theft.
READ ALSO: Chijioke arrested in India for blackmailing female doctor into committing suicide
Authorities suspect the network behind the heist extends beyond the four thieves who carried out the operation. The new suspects can be held for up to four days before charges are filed or they are released, prosecutors said.
The first two men arrested last week — both in their thirties with prior criminal records — are believed to have used power tools to access the display cases inside the Apollon Gallery. One was apprehended while attempting to board a one-way flight to Algeria, while the other was caught in France. Beccuau dismissed speculation that the robbery was an inside job, confirming no Louvre staff were involved.
According to investigators, the robbers entered the museum at about 9:30 a.m., shortly after opening time. They used a stolen vehicle-mounted mechanical lift to reach a balcony overlooking the River Seine and gained access to the gallery. Armed with a disc cutter, they smashed open display cases, seizing the jewels within four minutes before fleeing on scooters and later switching to cars. No one was harmed during the heist.
READ ALSO: Impeached South Korean President arrested for martial law plot
In response, security across France’s major cultural sites has been significantly reinforced. The Louvre has since moved its most valuable jewels to the ultra-secure vaults of the Bank of France, located 26 meters underground in central Paris.
Follow the Neptune Prime channel on WhatsApp:
Do you have breaking news, interview request, opinion, suggestion, or want your event covered? Email us at neptuneprime2233@gmail.com
