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Two suspects have confessed to their involvement in the audacious theft of France's crown jewels from the Louvre Museum, an incident that stunned the world and sparked an intensive investigation. According to the Paris prosecutor's office, the suspects have been remanded in custody while authorities continue their search for the missing jewels, which remain unrecovered.
The daring heist occurred in broad daylight at the Apollo Gallery of the Louvre, lasting just seven minutes but leaving a mark on global headlines. The thieves made off with jewels valued at approximately 88 million euros, including an emerald necklace gifted by Napoleon to his second wife. Police arrested the two men last Saturday and questioned them for 96 hours before presenting them to an investigative judge on Wednesday.
The first suspect, a 34-year-old Algerian national, was identified through DNA evidence collected from one of the scooters used during the escape. The second, a 39-year-old illegal taxi driver from Aubervilliers, had prior records for aggravated theft and was linked to the crime through DNA found on shattered glass from a display case. Both have been charged with organized theft and criminal conspiracy, crimes that carry potential sentences of up to 15 years.
Authorities confirmed the arrest of a third suspect in the Paris region, who remains in custody. Despite the scale of the operation, prosecutors found no evidence suggesting inside assistance from the museum's staff. Over 100 investigators worked on the case, analyzing more than 150 DNA samples and various items abandoned by the culprits, including gloves and a helmet.
One of the suspects was captured at Charles de Gaulle Airport as he attempted to board a flight to Algeria. Despite the arrests, the whereabouts of the nine stolen pieces, among them diamond and sapphire sets once worn by French royalty, remain a mystery. Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau expressed hope that the treasures might eventually be recovered, emphasizing that they are unsellable and that anyone attempting to trade them would face severe legal consequences.
