French police have arrested two men in connection with the spectacular robbery at the Louvre Museum, according to reports by the BBC.
The suspects, both around 30 years old and known to authorities for previous robberies, are believed to be part of the group behind the theft of eight priceless crown jewels valued at €88 million.
According to Le Figaro, the first suspect was apprehended at Charles de Gaulle Airport just moments before boarding a flight to Algeria. The second was detained almost simultaneously in Seine-Saint-Denis, on the northern outskirts of Paris.
The arrests follow an intense week-long investigation by the Brigade de Répression du Banditisme (BRB), the elite anti-robbery unit, which had deployed over 100 officers since the dramatic heist last Saturday night around 10 p.m. local time.
A case of 'national shame'
The investigation continues at full speed, as the theft has been described by French media as a matter of “national shame.” Security footage is being thoroughly analysed to trace the robbers’ escape route through Paris and its suburbs. Authorities are cross-referencing images from public and private CCTV systems including footage from motorways, banks, and local businesses, in an effort to identify the remaining members of the gang.
Le Figaro reports that further arrests are expected soon, as police race against time to dismantle the network and recover the stolen treasures of the French Crown.
Timeline of the heist
The robbery took place last Sunday morning at around 9:30 a.m., when the Louvre - the world’s most visited museum - was already crowded with visitors.
Four individuals, moving with astonishing ease, entered the premises and targeted one of the museum’s most valuable collections: the crown jewels of Napoleon. Within just seven minutes, they seized nine of the most precious pieces, including a crown worth an estimated £100 million.
Jewels still missing
As of Sunday morning, none of the eight stolen jewels had been recovered. The theft, which has laid bare serious lapses in the museum’s security system, has prompted criticism and deep concern within the French government.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez has expressed confidence that the investigation will soon shed full light on the affair and lead to the recovery of the missing treasures.