A newlywed couple embraces outside the Louvre museum in Paris on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, as visitors line up to enter — just three days after the bold daytime theft of priceless royal jewels. AP Photo
Police in Paris arrested two men linked to the spectacular theft of royal jewels from the Louvre museum, officials confirmed Sunday. The arrests came exactly one week after the early-morning robbery that shocked France and triggered a global manhunt.
The Paris prosecutor said investigators detained one suspect Saturday night at Charles de Gaulle Airport as he prepared to leave the country. Officials identified both suspects as men in their 30s, already known to police. They remain in custody as investigators continue questioning them.
Authorities have not confirmed whether any of the missing jewels have been found.
Caught before takeoff
A police source revealed that one of the suspects was arrested moments before boarding a flight to Algeria. The other man was taken into custody in the Paris area later the same night. DNA evidence collected at the crime scene reportedly helped lead police to one of the suspects.
Prosecutor Laure Beccuau said forensic experts examined over 150 samples from the scene to identify those involved. The suspects can be held for up to 96 hours before charges are laid.
Beccuau expressed frustration over media leaks, warning they could interfere with the ongoing investigation. “Over a hundred investigators remain mobilized to recover the stolen jewels and find everyone responsible,” she said.
A lightning-fast heist
The thieves struck just before dawn last Sunday, using a mechanical lift to scale the Louvre’s outer wall. Within eight minutes, they broke a window, smashed several glass display cases, and fled with eight priceless royal pieces worth roughly 88 million euros ($102 million).
The stolen items include jewels once belonging to French royalty — sapphire and emerald diadems, necklaces, earrings, and a diamond-studded brooch tied to queens and empresses from the 19th century.
One damaged crown was later recovered near the museum. Officials said it could be repaired, though most of the stolen pieces remain missing.
The Louvre’s director called the theft a “terrible failure,” saying the museum would review its security systems.
Police praise and public relief
France’s interior minister praised investigators for their “tireless work” and confidence in their efforts to bring all the suspects to justice.
The museum reopened earlier this week after security checks and repairs, but the loss of the jewels has left a deep mark. Some Parisians compared the cultural blow to the Notre Dame Cathedral fire in 2019.
Outside the Louvre on Sunday, visitors expressed relief over the arrests.
“It’s a comfort to know they caught someone,” said tourist Freddy Jacquemet. “We just hope the jewels come back.”
Diana Ramirez, another visitor, shared the same sentiment. “What matters most now is finding those treasures. They’re part of history.”
