4 more arrested in Louvre jewel heist, Paris prosecutor says

The Paris prosecutor announced four more arrests Tuesday in connection with the stunning heist at the Louvre Museum in October by a gang that made off with $102 million worth of jewels.

The two men and two women taken into custody are from the Paris region and range in age from 31 to 40, said the prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, whose office is heading the investigation.

Her statement didn’t say what role they’re suspected of having played in the Oct. 19 theft. Police can hold them for questioning for 96 hours.

French media report that one of those arrested, a 39-year-old already known to police services, is believed to be the fourth member of the team thought to have carried out the daring daylight robbery and is from Aubervilliers, a suburb north of Paris other suspects have connections with.

Story continues below advertisement 2:01 Louvre slammed for spending money on art instead of security in years before heist

• Louvre slammed for spending money on art instead of security in years before heist
• Paris prosecutor provides update on brazen Louvre heist, says stolen jewels not recovered
• Louvre robbery suspects arrested one week after jewel heist
• Louvre robbery suspects arrested week after jewel heist, prosecutor says

Previous Video Next Video

The other three alleged members of the so-called “commando” team have been previously arrested and face preliminary charges of theft by an organized gang and criminal conspiracy. Their DNA has been found on the scene or on items linked to the robbery.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

A woman arrested in October is accused of complicity.

The loot hasn’t been recovered. It includes a diamond-and-emerald necklace Napoleon gave to Empress Marie-Louise, jewels tied to 19th-century Queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense and Empress Eugénie’s pearl-and-diamond tiara.

Trending Now

• Youth arrested in Ontario for posting ISIS videos, seeking firearms
• 14 Alberta government MLAs are facing recall efforts. What’s going on?

View image in full screen This photograph shows the ‘parure de la reine Marie-Amelie et de la Reine Hortense’ (set of jewelry of Queen Marie-Amelie and Queen Hortense) displayed at Apollon’s Gallery on January 14, 2020 at the Louvre museum in Paris after the reopening of the Gallery following ten months of renovations. STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/AFP via Getty Images

The robbery has focused attention on security at the Louvre, the world’s most-visited museum.

Story continues below advertisement

The thieves took less than eight minutes to force their way into the museum and leave, using a freight lift to reach the building’s window. Footage from museum cameras showed two broke into the ornate Apollo Gallery, cutting into the jewelry display cases with disc cutters and making off with the trove, while two riders on scooters whisked them away.

The emerald-set imperial crown of Napoleon III’s wife, Empress Eugénie, containing more than 1,300 diamonds, was later found outside the museum.

More on World More videos

• Ukraine talks ‘a step forward’ but road to peace is long, Europe warns
• Brazil’s Bolsonaro says ‘hallucinations’ led to arrest, judge says
• Carney says he’ll speak with Trump ‘when it’s appropriate’
• 50 schoolchildren escape Nigerian abduction, but more remain captive

• White House circulates plan to extend Obamacare subsidies
• U.S.-Russia pressure intensifies as Ukraine weighs sweeping peace concessions
• U.S. designates Venezuelan group ‘Cartel de los Soles’ as terror organization
• ‘Blatant racism’: Australian senate suspended after far-right lawmaker wears burqa