French police have arrested two suspects believed to be behind the audacious daylight robbery at the world-famous Louvre Museum in Paris, where thieves made away with priceless crown jewels valued at over KSh 13 billion.
The arrests come a week after the high-profile heist at the museum’s Apollo Gallery, which houses the French Crown Jewels. According to investigators, the two men—both in their thirties and known to law enforcement—were detained on Saturday evening. One of them was captured while attempting to leave France through Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Authorities say the daring robbery took place in broad daylight, with the thieves using a truck-mounted ladder to access the gallery through a window on the museum’s upper floor. Once inside, they smashed open two high-security display cases and stole nine historic pieces of jewellery within just seven minutes.
The stolen items include emerald, diamond, and sapphire sets once worn by French royalty, such as Empress Eugénie and Queen Marie-Amélie. Among them was a diamond and sapphire tiara and a matching necklace belonging to Queen Hortense. The jewellery’s estimated worth stands at approximately KSh 13.2 billion.
More than 100 investigators have been assigned to the case as authorities continue their manhunt for at least two additional suspects believed to have taken part in the theft. The Louvre’s director described the incident as a “terrible failure,” emphasizing the need for tighter security at one of the world’s most visited museums.
The French government has also acknowledged lapses in security, with concerns raised over how the thieves could use heavy equipment such as a basket lift near the museum without detection. Officials have since pledged a thorough review of the museum’s safety measures to prevent similar breaches in the future.
While the investigation remains ongoing, police have yet to confirm whether any of the stolen jewels have been recovered. The arrests, however, mark a major breakthrough in what has been described as one of France’s most brazen art and heritage thefts in decades.
