A break-in at the Louvre in the French capital Paris on Sunday saw suspected criminals make off with “priceless” jewelry, according to France’s culture minister.
Rachida Dati said the incident occurred as the museum, one of the world’s most famous, opened its doors Sunday morning.
“A robbery took place this morning at the opening of the Louvre Museum,” she wrote on X. The museum confirmed it would be closed for the day “for exceptional reasons.”
On Sunday evening, the culture ministry said nine objects had been stolen from the Paris museum. One of the items was recovered nearby, most likely after being dropped by the alleged thieves as they fled.
“Two high-security display cases were targeted, and eight objects of invaluable cultural heritage were stolen,” the ministry said.
One of the stolen items is an emerald-and-diamond necklace that Napoleon gave his wife Empress Marie Louise.
The Paris prosecutors said police were hunting for four suspects, who had used high-powered scooters to escape, Laure Beccuau told BFMTV television.
Burglars entered through a window
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez described the incident as a “major robbery.”
He said the burglars, armed with small chainsaws, used a basket lift to reach the targeted room. They fled on motorbikes with the stolen jewelry.
“The investigation has begun, and a detailed list of the stolen items is being compiled. Beyond their market value, these items have inestimable heritage and historical value,” the French Interior Ministry said.
The Louvre’s most notorious theft occurred in 1911, when the Mona Lisa was stolen by a former employee. Recovered two years later in Florence, the heist helped turn Leonardo da Vinci’s portrait into the world’s best-known artwork.
Last year, the Louvre welcomed 8.7 million visitors.
Edited by: Saim Dušan Inayatullah and Karl Sexton
