French law enforcement agencies detained two suspects in a large-scale theft case committed a week ago at the Louvre, the world's most famous museum, bbc.com reported, and this information was also confirmed by the Paris prosecutor's office.
Officials have not yet disclosed the number of detainees, but according to preliminary information, one of them was stopped at the Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle airport on the eve of a flight abroad. He was detained several hours before his second accomplice. Later, the second suspect was detained in the suburb of Paris, in the town of Saint-Saint-Denis.
According to sources, both individuals were previously registered with the police and suspected of engaging in criminal activity. According to AFP, one of the suspects attempted to board a plane en route to Algeria.
As a reminder, the brutal robbery at the Louvre took place last Sunday afternoon. The criminals entered the museum through stairs, cut through the window glass, and, opening metal safes containing predetermined items, stole valuable artifacts.
The robbery lasted only eight minutes and involved four masked individuals. Two of them entered the building, while the rest acted as observers outside. Investigators believe that this crime was well-planned and professionally carried out.
Paris Attorney Laura Becqua said this on Saturday in response to a BBC inquiry:
"I confirm that the investigators carried out the arrest on the evening of October 25. One of the suspects was attempting to leave the country. The investigation is currently in full swing, and the interrogation process could last up to 96 hours."
The prosecutor expressed regret over the premature dissemination of the investigation data to the public, noting that this could negatively affect the investigation:
"It's too early to provide further details. "The disclosure of this information complicates the work of investigators," he said.
It turned out that among the stolen items were jewelry, diadems, and necklaces decorated with diamonds and precious stones, belonging to Napoleon Bonaparte and his family, dating back to the 19th century. Their total value is estimated at 88 million euros (about 102 million dollars).
Some experts believe that the thieves may have already dismantled the items - meaning the stones and metals were taken separately and could be sold at a price lower than their historical value.
The French Minister of Justice called the incident a major damage to the country's cultural heritage and acknowledged that the museum's security protocols were inadequate.
At the same time, two items were found near the crime scene - including a crown belonging to Empress Eugenia. Perhaps the thieves abandoned them or lost them during the escape.
The investigation is still ongoing. The French press called this event a "theft of the century" - because it is a huge loss not only financially, but also culturally and historically.
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