French authorities have made a significant breakthrough in the investigation into the high-profile Louvre museum heist, announcing the arrest of two suspects on Saturday evening. The theft, which occurred last Sunday, saw a gang make off with valuable pieces of the French Crown Jewels from the museum’s Apollo Gallery.
The arrests were confirmed by French media, including Le Parisien, citing police sources, and subsequently reported by Reuters.
The first suspect was apprehended by border police at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport around 10 p.m. local time while reportedly attempting to board a flight out of the country, possibly to Algeria. The second suspect was taken into custody later the same evening in the Seine-Saint-Denis suburb north of Paris. Both men are reportedly in their 30s and hail from the Seine-Saint-Denis area.
Both suspects are currently being questioned by the Paris organized crime squad as part of the ongoing probe into the brazen daylight robbery, which saw thieves use a furniture hoist and power tools to access a first-floor window of the museum.
The sensational heist, which lasted under seven minutes, targeted the royal jewellery collection in the Galerie d’Apollon, resulting in the theft of items valued at an estimated €88 million (approx. $102 million). The sophisticated nature of the crime—carried out shortly after the museum opened—had prompted an intense manhunt and raised serious questions about security protocols at the world’s most-visited museum.
Authorities have not yet released the identities of the arrested individuals. Police sources suggest the two suspects are believed to be part of a four-person team responsible for the theft. The arrests follow intense forensic work at the scene, where the thieves left behind a damaged crown and traces of DNA on a discarded hi-vis vest.