UPDATE: In a dramatic turn of events, suspects have been arrested in connection with the audacious jewel heist at the Louvre Museum, as confirmed by Paris prosecutors. The arrests were made just last night, a week after the theft of priceless crown jewels worth an estimated €88 million ($102 million) on October 19, 2025.
Authorities report that one suspect was attempting to flee the country via Charles de Gaulle Airport when taken into custody. While the Paris prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, has not disclosed the total number of arrests or whether any jewels have been recovered, French media outlets have indicated that at least two individuals are in custody.
The shocking heist unfolded in under eight minutes, with thieves using a basket lift to scale the museum’s façade and force open a window. They swiftly smashed display cases and made off with invaluable artifacts, a move described by the museum’s director as a “terrible failure.”
The stolen items include a sapphire diadem, necklace, and an earring linked to 19th-century queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense, as well as an emerald necklace and earrings connected to Empress Marie-Louise, Napoleon Bonaparte’s second wife. Among the loot was also a diamond diadem belonging to Empress Eugénie.
In a statement, Beccuau expressed frustration over premature leaks of information, emphasizing that they could hinder the efforts of more than 100 investigators mobilized to recover the stolen jewels and capture all perpetrators. She noted that further details would be released after the suspects’ custody period concludes.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez praised the tireless work of investigators, affirming that he had full confidence in their abilities to resolve the case swiftly. The Louvre has since reopened, attracting crowds eager to witness the site of one of the highest-profile museum thefts in recent history.
The incident has left a cultural scar, evoking comparisons to the tragic fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in 2019. Visitors and locals expressed relief at the arrests, with one Louvre visitor, Freddy Jacquemet, stating, “It’s important for our heritage. A week later, it does feel a bit late, but it was important that the guys were caught.”
Another passerby, Diana Ramirez, emphasized the urgency of recovering the stolen jewels, stating, “That’s what really matters.”
As investigations continue and more details emerge, the world watches closely for updates on both the recovery of the jewels and the fate of those arrested. Stay tuned for further developments in this unfolding story.
