Five more suspects have been arrested in connection with the daring daytime heist of France’s crown jewels from the Louvre, French investigators announced Thursday, although the priceless treasures remain missing.
Police carried out the arrests in separate operations in Paris and neighboring areas, including the Seine-Saint-Denis region, prosecutor Laure Beccuau told RTL radio. The identities of the suspects have not been released.
One of the newly arrested individuals is suspected of being part of the four-man team that stormed the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery in broad daylight on October 19 and stole jewels worth 88 million euros in less than eight minutes.
“Due to searches last night and overnight, we were unable to locate the goods,” Beccuau said.
LOUVRE HEIST ADDS TO HISTORY OF LARGE-PROFILE MUSEUM BREAKFASTS, LEAVES OTHER GALLERIES ON THE EDGE
People visit the courtyard of the Louvre in the rain on Monday, October 27, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Two other members of the team were arrested on Sunday and provisionally charged on Wednesday with criminal conspiracy and theft committed by an organized gang. Beccuau said both have at least partially acknowledged their involvement in the robbery.
One suspect, a 34-year-old Algerian who has lived in France since 2010, was arrested at Charles de Gaulle airport as he tried to flee to Algeria on a one-way ticket. He lived in the northern Paris suburb of Aubervilliers and was previously known to police for traffic offences. His DNA was found on a scooter used in the escape.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau speaks during a press conference at the Paris courthouse on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, about the judicial investigation into the Louvre robbery in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Emma Da Silva)
The second suspect, 39, was arrested at his home in Aubervilliers. He was known to the police because of several previous thefts. Investigators compared his DNA to a glass display case containing the stolen jewelry and to items left behind by the thieves, the prosecutor added.
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The thieves used a basket lift to scale the exterior of the museum, forced open a window and used cutting tools to open display cases in the Apollo Gallery. They escaped with eight historical pieces, including:
– A set of sapphire diadem, necklace and earrings linked to the queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense
– An emerald necklace and earrings from Empress Marie-Louise, Napoleon’s second wife
– A reliquary brooch
– The diamond diadem of Empress Eugénie and the elaborate brooch with corsage bow
Eugénie’s emerald-encrusted crown – set with more than 1,300 diamonds – was later found damaged but was able to be repaired outside the museum.
Louvre director Laurence des Cars acknowledged a “terrible failure” in museum security. However, Beccuau said there is no evidence the theft was an inside job.
A police park in the courtyard of the Louvre, a week after the robbery, Sunday, October 26, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)
In a direct appeal to those in possession of the missing jewels, Beccuau warned on Wednesday evening that they are “unsellable” due to their historical significance and urged their return.
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“Anyone who buys them is guilty of concealing stolen goods,” she said. “There is still time to give them back.”
