According to French media sources, two suspects were arrested on Saturday and were taken into police custody on suspicion of organised theft and criminal conspiracy.
On 19 October, a group of thieves breached the Louvre Museum in broad daylight and stole eight items belonging to the French Crown Jewels. Among the lost items are pieces owned by Emperor Napoleon, his nephew Napoleon III and their wives, the empresses Marie-Louise and Eugénie. Experts estimate the value of the stolen jewellery to be around $156 million.
One of the suspects was reportedly arrested at Charles de Gaulle Airport and was allegedly planning to fly to Algeria. The French interior minister, Laurent Nuñez, said the heist appeared to have been carried out by an organised crime group but noted that "thieves are always eventually caught".
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau did not confirm how many people had been arrested, and in a statement, expressed concern that media leaks could disrupt the investigation.
"This revelation can only hinder the investigative efforts of the 100 or so mobilised investigators, both in the search for the stolen jewellery and for all the perpetrators. It is too early to provide any specific details," Beccuau said.
Beccuau said that around 150 DNA samples, fingerprints, and other examples of trace evidence were currently being studied. The incident has raised concerns about the security at the Louvre Museum, which houses famous artworks such as the Mona Lisa and welcomes more than 8 million visitors each year.
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