Two men accused of stealing French crown jewels worth $102 million from Paris’ famed Louvre Museum have partially admitted to their roles in the audacious heist, prosecutors revealed on Wednesday.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said one of the suspects, a 34-year-old Algerian national living in France since 2010, was arrested at Charles de Gaulle Airport on Saturday as he attempted to board a one-way flight to Algeria. The second suspect, a 39-year-old man, was apprehended later that night at his home in Aubervilliers, a northern suburb of Paris.
“There is no evidence to suggest that he was about to leave the country,” Beccuau said, adding that DNA evidence linked the 39-year-old to one of the glass display cases and to items left behind at the crime scene.
Both men face preliminary charges of theft committed by an organised gang and criminal conspiracy, and they are expected to remain in provisional detention.
Prosecutors said there was no indication at this stage that the robbery was an inside job, despite speculation to the contrary.
None of the eight stolen pieces—believed to be French crown jewels—have yet been recovered. The daring break-in, which took place in the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery, reportedly lasted less than eight minutes. The thieves forced open a window, cut into display cases with power tools, and escaped before security could respond.
Beccuau noted that the Algerian suspect, previously known to authorities for traffic offenses and theft, was identified through DNA found on one of the scooters used in the getaway.
The Louvre, the world’s most visited museum, has faced intense scrutiny since the theft, which shocked both France and the global art community. Investigations are ongoing as authorities work to trace the missing jewels and determine whether more accomplices were involved.
Melissa Enoch
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