The Louvre Museum in Paris reopened on Wednesday after a significant theft of jewellery valued at approximately 88 million euros (£76 million; $102 million) that occurred three days earlier. While general access to the museum resumed at 09:00 local time (07:00 GMT), the Apollo Gallery, where the robbery took place, remains closed to visitors.
The robbery, executed by four masked thieves on Sunday morning, lasted less than eight minutes. The criminals used power tools and scooters to evade capture and have not yet been apprehended. They allegedly entered through a glass window on the first floor, threatened museum guards, then shattered display cases to steal the jewellery. Efforts to set their vehicle ablaze were thwarted by a museum staff member.
In response to the incident, French President Emmanuel Macron called for an expedited review of security measures at the museum. The museum’s director, Laurence des Cars, is scheduled to address the French Senate’s culture committee regarding the incident. A preliminary investigation revealed that one-third of the museum’s exhibit rooms lacked CCTV coverage, and the alarms in the Apollo Gallery had reportedly been malfunctioning. Increased security measures are now being implemented across cultural institutions in France.
Following the heist, the Louvre shut down and offered refunds to visitors whose bookings were affected. Many visitors expressed understanding of the situation. Meanwhile, investigators, including Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, remain optimistic about capturing the suspects, who are believed to have links to organized crime. The investigation continues to examine the details of the robbery, including the stolen items, which range from a diamond and emerald necklace to a tiara worn by Empress Eugenie.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0exgrvw9gyo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss