Hours after the robbery, authorities recovered Empress Eugénie's crown, which was found damaged
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An unusual theft of priceless jewels at the Louvre Museum in Paris forced the complete closure of the iconic venue this Sunday, according to French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez.
In statements to France Inter, the official specified that the criminals entered from outside using a lifting platform and that the carefully planned operation was completed in just seven minutes.
Nuñez described the incident as a "major robbery" and explained that the criminal group "had previously conducted reconnaissance work," using a rotary tool to cut the glass and break into the building.
El Museo del Louvre de París.
The police cordoned off the surrounding area and blocked access routes in the presence of thousands of tourists, whose images of the evacuation quickly went viral. From its official account on X, the museum reported that it would remain closed for "exceptional reasons," without providing further details about the theft or its impact on programming.
According to the outlet Le Parisien, the assailants entered through the façade facing the Seine River, an area currently under construction, and used a construction lift to reach the famous Galerie d’Apollon, where the French Crown Jewels are displayed.
The same outlet detailed that the thieves smashed the windows and stole "nine pieces from the collection of jewels of Napoleon and the empress." Hours later, one of the stolen pieces, from the crown of Empress Eugénie, was found broken outside the museum. Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the assault.
El Museo del Louvre de París.
Hours after the assault on the Louvre Museum, authorities confirmed the discovery of one of the stolen jewels. French Minister of Culture Rachida Dati reported that the criminals lost one of the pieces during their escape and that it is currently being "evaluated," although she did not specify which one it is.
"We have reviewed the security footage: [the thieves] did not target people, they entered calmly, smashed the display cases in four minutes, took the loot, and left. There was no violence, everything was very professional," Dati stated.
Both the newspaper Le Parisien and the AFP agency, citing sources close to the investigation, indicated that the recovered jewel would be Empress Eugénie's crown, found damaged in the vicinity of the museum. Authorities continue working to determine the condition of the other stolen jewels and to reconstruct the route the assailants took before and after the heist.
