According to the prosecutor, the four detainees — three men and one woman — are "obviously local residents" who "all more or less live in the Saint-Denis area," located north of Paris.
Beck also reported that two of the arrested men have numerous convictions for theft. On Saturday, charges were brought against a 38-year-old woman from Cournay, located near Saint-Denis, and a 37-year-old man. The two are in a relationship and have children, but the prosecutor did not disclose any further details.
The names of these suspects have not been released, and they deny any involvement in the crime. Earlier, two others were detained: a 34-year-old Algerian living in France (his identity was established through DNA traces on the scooter used for the escape) and a 39-year-old taxi driver. These two partially admitted their guilt in the robbery, according to law enforcement sources.
The investigation suggests that four people attacked the Louvre, one of whom is still at large. This week, three more individuals were detained for questioning regarding their involvement, but they were released without charges.
Timeline of the robbery
On October 19, Sunday, a group of suspects arrived at the Louvre at 09:30 local time, shortly after the museum opened. Using a stolen truck with a mechanical ladder, they climbed to a balcony overlooking the Seine River. With the help of disc cutters, they cut through a window and entered the Apollo Gallery, where they opened safes containing jewelry.
According to the prosecutor's office, the criminals were in the museum for only four minutes. At 09:38, they fled on two scooters and then switched to cars. They managed to steal historical artifacts worth approximately 88 million euros (over 100 million dollars).
The French Ministry of Culture reported that among the stolen items were:
- two brooches, a corsage bow, and the diadem of Empress Eugénie, the wife of Napoleon III;
- an emerald necklace and an earring from the collection of Marie-Louise, the wife of Napoleon I;
- a necklace, a pair of earrings, and a diadem belonging to Marie Amélie, the wife of King Louis-Philippe I, and Hortense de Beauharnais, the mother of Napoleon III.
All items were adorned with thousands of diamonds and other precious stones.
At least one of the stolen relics — the crown of Empress Eugénie — was found near the crime scene, likely discarded or lost by the thieves during their escape.
Prosecutors fear that the stolen valuables may have already been smuggled abroad, making them difficult to locate. Nevertheless, Beck noted that selling these items is currently impossible and emphasized that there is still a chance to recover them.
She also urged anyone who may possess the stolen valuables to note that in the case of voluntary return, "the courts will take into account the absence of losses from the theft."
After the incident, French authorities heightened security measures in all museums across the country.
