Robbery Details and Timeline

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed that the robbery occurred at approximately 9:30 a.m. local time in the Apollo Room, which houses the French Crown Jewels and other historic artifacts. “A major robbery took place this morning,” Nuñez told France Inter. “Individuals entered the Louvre from outside, using an external freight elevator positioned on a truck.”

According to authorities, the thieves forced open a window using an angle grinder. The raid lasted only seven minutes, after which the suspects fled on motorcycles. “Clearly, a team had been scouting the location. It was obviously a very experienced team that acted very, very quickly,” Nuñez added.

Recovered Items and Damage

Culture Minister Rachida Dati told French television that at least one piece of jewelry, identified as the crown of Empress Eugénie, had been recovered near the museum. The crown, adorned with 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds, sustained damage during the theft, TF1 and Le Parisien reported.

A second item was also recovered, though its identity has not been disclosed. The Interior Ministry emphasized that the stolen items have “inestimable heritage and historical value” beyond any market price. A detailed inventory of stolen objects is still being compiled.

Evidence Found at the Scene

Video and reporting from Le Parisien showed French police examining a furniture elevator next to the museum, leading up to the broken window. Investigators recovered several items left behind by the thieves, including two angle grinders, a blowtorch, gasoline, gloves, a walkie-talkie, a blanket, and a yellow vest discarded during the escape.

Eyewitness Accounts

Tourists in the Apollo Room were evacuated as the raid unfolded. Ryan el Mandari, a tour guide leading a group, described hearing “stomping” at the window followed by security guards shouting to evacuate. “I was just trying to figure out what’s happening when I saw the museum staff going to that noise,” he told CNN. “They started running and saying ‘get out, get out, get out, evacuate!’”

Investigation and Security Measures

The Louvre Museum, which houses iconic works including Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, remained closed for the rest of the day due to the security operation. Authorities stressed that the closure was necessary to preserve evidence.

Mayor of Paris Center, Ariel Weil, said the robbery appeared meticulously planned. “I can’t recall the Louvre being the target of a robbery in more than a century,” he told reporters, referencing the famous 1911 Mona Lisa theft.

Public Impact and Visitor Statistics

The Louvre welcomed 8.7 million visitors in 2024, with tourists from the United States accounting for 13% of all guests, the second-largest group after the French. The museum emphasized that no injuries occurred during the incident.

Closing Remarks from Authorities

Interior Minister Nuñez expressed confidence that law enforcement would quickly identify the perpetrators and recover the remaining stolen items. Investigators continue to analyze evidence and review surveillance footage as part of a coordinated effort with cultural authorities.

Source: CNN – Thieves steal ‘priceless’ jewelry from the Louvre in seven-minute raid

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