Rewritten Story:
PARIS — French authorities have made arrests in connection with the audacious daylight theft of France’s crown jewels from the Louvre museum, one of the most daring art crimes in modern history.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau confirmed Sunday that suspects were taken into custody late Saturday, including one man who was apprehended while attempting to flee the country from Roissy Airport. Beccuau did not disclose how many people were arrested or whether any of the stolen jewels had been recovered.
According to reports from BFM TV and Le Parisien, at least two suspects are being held by investigators from France’s elite unit specializing in armed robberies, major burglaries, and art thefts. Beccuau cautioned that premature leaks of information could compromise the ongoing investigation, which now involves more than 100 officers working to track down the missing treasures and all individuals involved.
The heist — described by officials as taking less than eight minutes — occurred last Sunday morning when thieves used a basket lift to scale the Louvre’s exterior, forced open a window, smashed glass display cases, and vanished with historic jewels worth an estimated €88 million (US$102 million).
Among the stolen pieces were priceless items once belonging to French royalty, including a sapphire diadem and necklace linked to Queen Marie-Amélie, an emerald jewelry set tied to Empress Marie-Louise, and diamond-studded brooches from Empress Eugénie’s imperial collection. One damaged relic — Eugénie’s emerald crown set with more than 1,300 diamonds — was later discovered outside the museum.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez praised the investigators for their swift progress, saying they “worked tirelessly, just as I asked them to, and have my full confidence.”
The Louvre, which reopened earlier this week under tight security, has described the incident as a “terrible failure” that dealt a cultural blow comparable to the 2019 Notre Dame Cathedral fire.
As the investigation deepens, France and the art world alike are watching closely — hoping the nation’s stolen crown jewels may soon be recovered and restored to their rightful place in history.