Two suspects in the Louvre robbery arrested in Paris

French judicial police have arrested two men they suspect of having participated in the robbery at the Louvre Museum. According to the Prosecutor's Office, at least one of the two suspects was arrested on Saturday at Charles de Gaulle Airport as he attempted to board a flight to Algeria. The other suspect was arrested in the Seine-Saint-Denis department, north of Paris. Both men, who are in police custody, have prior records for robbery. Police accuse them of "organized robbery" and "criminal association." The police are still searching for the other two men involved in the robbery. According to French police, around 100 people are involved in the robbery investigation.

The French Prosecutor's Office has confirmed the arrests of the suspects, but regretted that some media outlets, such as The Parisian, have released the information "hastily" because it could harm the investigation. "I deeply regret the disclosure of this information by people in the case of information that has not taken into account the investigation," explained prosecutor Laure Beccuau in a statement.

The audacious robbery at the Louvre, which shocked the world and left France dismayed, took place last Sunday, when a group of men used a mechanical crane to access the gallery where the royal jewels are displayed. Two men climbed onto the balcony, broke a regular glass window with a saw to open a door, and entered the gallery, which was already open to the public. Once inside, they cut the glass of the displays and took several jewels. Two security guards arrived at the gallery when they heard the alarms, but did not approach the thieves, who left by the same staircase. Two other men were waiting for them below, and the four fled on motorcycles, in broad daylight. The whole thing lasted seven minutes. The jewels are valued at 88 million euros.

The theft has been a severe blow to a France besieged by political inaction and a soaring deficit. "What happened on Sunday is not a trivial incident. It is a serious attack on our historical heritage and a wound for the entire country, because the Louvre is the showcase of French culture," the Minister of Culture explained to the deputies. This explains the enormous resources the state has put into locating the perpetrators of the theft, with numerous police forces and dozens of officers involved.

From the outset, the police were optimistic. Although no details were provided, those in charge of the investigation believed that DNA samples collected and some objects the thieves left behind would allow them to follow the trail. There were also cameras from the streets through which they fled. Prosecutor Beccuau detailed on Thursday that "one hundred and fifty DNA samples and fingerprints" had been taken, and that the thieves had not had time to set fire to the crane, which could also be examined by investigators.

Despite the arrests, there is concern about the condition of the stolen works. Because they are well-known pieces, the chances of selling them on the black market are slim, which could force the thieves to dismantle them and sell the pieces separately. It is currently unknown whether the police have been able to recover the jewels. Two of those involved have not yet been found.

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