The Louvre Museum in Paris was closed after a professional robbery early this morning in which the French Crown Jewels were stolen.
Located in the heart of Paris, the world’s most visited museum—the Louvre—closed its doors following a sophisticated heist that took place this morning. French Minister of Culture Rachida Dati announced that the incident occurred during the museum’s opening hours. Police and forensic teams remain on-site conducting investigations.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stated that jewels of “immeasurable cultural value” were stolen. The robbery occurred in one of the museum’s most magnificent sections, the Apollo Gallery, where the French royal jewels are displayed. According to officials, a team of three or four robbers arrived at the museum around 9:30 a.m. Using a construction area, a freight elevator, and a truck, the thieves entered the premises and used an angle grinder to cut through the glass cases. The entire operation lasted only seven minutes. They fled the scene on motorbikes with the stolen jewels. Police confirmed that the escape route has been identified and that the suspects may be linked to a known organized crime group. CCTV footage is currently under review.
Photo: Thibault Camus, AP.
Minister Dati announced that one piece of jewelry, dropped by the thieves during their escape, was found near the museum. The Louvre will remain closed for the day “for exceptional reasons.” Museum Director Laurence des Cars stated that visitors were evacuated and that security and forensic examinations are still underway. The Paris Prosecutor’s Office has launched a large-scale investigation into the robbery.
Earlier this year, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a major renovation plan for the Louvre, which had already brought attention to the museum’s structural issues. Des Cars previously noted that the areas beneath the glass pyramid suffer from insulation problems, leaks, and temperature fluctuations that threaten the preservation of artworks.
