PARIS (AP) \u2014 Two suspects were arrested in connection with the theft of crown jewels from Paris\u2019 Louvre museum, justice and police officials said Sunday, a week after the heist that stunned the world and sparked a massive manhunt.<\/p>\n
The Paris prosecutor said that investigators made arrests Saturday evening, adding that one of the men taken into custody was preparing to leave the country from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.<\/p>\n
French media BFM TV and Le Parisien newspaper earlier reported that two suspects had been arrested and taken into custody. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau did not confirm the number of arrests and did not say whether any jewels had been recovered.<\/p>\n
A police official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the ongoing case, told The Associated Press that two men in their 30s, both known to police, were taken into custody. He said one suspect was arrested as he attempted to board a plane bound for Algeria. The official added that one of the suspects was identified through DNA traces. Beccuau said earlier this week that forensics experts were analyzing 150 samples at the scene.<\/p>\n
The suspects can be held in police custody up to 96 hours.<\/p>\n
Thieves took less than eight minutes last Sunday morning to steal jewels valued at 88 million euros ($102 million) from the world\u2019s most-visited museum. French officials described how the intruders used a basket lift to scale the Louvre\u2019s fa\u00e7ade, forced open a window, smashed display cases and fled. The museum\u2019s director called the incident a \u201cterrible failure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beccuau said investigators from a special police unit in charge of armed robberies, serious burglaries and art thefts made the arrests. In her statement, she rued the premature leak of information, saying it could hinder the work of over 100 investigators \u201cmobilized to recover the stolen jewels and apprehend all of the perpetrators.\u201d Beccuau said further details will be unveiled after the suspects\u2019 custody period ends.<\/p>\n
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez praised \u201cthe investigators who have worked tirelessly, just as I asked them to, and who have always had my full confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Louvre reopened earlier this week after one of the highest-profile museum thefts of the century stunned the world with its audacity and scale.<\/p>\n
The thieves slipped in and out, making off with some of France\u2019s crown jewels \u2014 a cultural wound that some compared to the burning of Notre Dame Cathedral in 2019.<\/p>\n
The thieves escaped with a total of eight objects, including a sapphire diadem, necklace and single earring from a set linked to 19th-century queens Marie-Am\u00e9lie and Hortense.<\/p>\n
They also took an emerald necklace and earrings tied to Empress Marie-Louise, Napoleon Bonaparte\u2019s second wife, as well as a reliquary brooch. Empress Eug\u00e9nie\u2019s diamond diadem and her large corsage-bow brooch \u2014 an imperial ensemble of rare craftsmanship \u2014 were also part of the loot.<\/p>\n
One piece \u2014 Eug\u00e9nie\u2019s emerald-set imperial crown with more than 1,300 diamonds \u2014 was later found outside the museum, damaged but repairable. <\/p>\n
News of the arrests was met with relief by Louvre visitors and passersby on Sunday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important for our heritage. A week later, it does feel a bit late, we wonder how this could even happen \u2014 but it was important that the guys were caught,\u201d said Freddy Jacquemet. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think the main thing now is whether they can recover the jewels,” added Diana Ramirez. \u201cThat\u2019s what really matters.\u201d<\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
Petrequin reported from London. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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