French authorities have arrested five new suspects in connection with the daring Louvre Museum robbery earlier this month, which saw eight precious jewels worth around $102 million stolen. The arrests follow the detention of two men last weekend, who reportedly admitted partial involvement in the high-profile daylight heist. Investigators believe the suspects were part of a larger organized network that may have included a mastermind who ordered the theft. However, the stolen jewels remain missing, and authorities continue to search for both the loot and additional accomplices.
The robbery took place on the morning of October 19, when four hooded thieves broke into the museum’s Apollo Gallery during visiting hours. Using a stolen elevator truck, they climbed to an outside balcony, smashed a window, and escaped within minutes on motorbikes. The Apollo Gallery, which houses France’s historic Crown Jewels, is one of the Louvre’s most protected sections, yet the thieves managed to bypass several layers of security. The swift operation, lasting barely seven minutes, exposed major security gaps at the world’s most-visited museum.
Read more : Louvre transfers jewels to Bank of France after heist
Prosecutor Laure Beccuau said the two earlier detainees were identified through DNA traces left at the scene, with one suspect caught at an airport while attempting to fly to Algeria. Both men, aged 34 and 39, reside in the northern Paris suburb of Aubervilliers and are believed to have carried out the break-in while two accomplices waited outside. The prosecutor stated that investigators were seeking judicial approval to place them under formal investigation for organized theft, a serious charge under French law.
Meanwhile, French media reported that the five newly arrested suspects are being questioned about their role in planning and executing the robbery. One of the latest detainees was allegedly present at the museum on the day of the heist. Officials have not confirmed whether the new suspects are linked to those already in custody, but investigators suspect coordination among multiple individuals. Security footage and forensic evidence are being reviewed to identify the full extent of the network behind the robbery.
Read more : Suspects arrested over theft of crown jewels from the Louvre
Following the incident, the Louvre has transferred several of its most valuable jewels to the Bank of France for safekeeping under tight security. The heist has raised serious concerns about the museum’s surveillance systems, which failed to detect the intrusion quickly enough to prevent the theft. Authorities remain hopeful that the missing jewels will be recovered and that the ongoing investigation will reveal how such an elaborate operation was carried out in broad daylight in one of the world’s most secure cultural institutions.