France arrests five new suspects over Louvre heist
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French police arrest five more suspects, including the prime suspect, in the $102 million Louvre museum robbery.
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French police officers stand next to a furniture elevator used by robbers to enter the Louvre Museum, on Quai Francois Mitterrand, in Paris on October 19, 2025. (Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP)
French police have arrested five more individuals, including a prime suspect, in connection with the $102 million Louvre museum robbery earlier this month. The bold theft, which took place in broad daylight on October 19, saw four assailants use a lift-equipped truck and cutting tools to breach a gallery on the museum’s first floor, escaping with historic jewelry.
The operation, which lasted just seven minutes, has drawn comparisons to cinematic heists and triggered a sweeping investigation across the Paris region.
The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed on Thursday that the arrests were made on Wednesday in Seine-Saint-Denis and other areas near the capital. Among those detained was a prime suspect, identified through DNA evidence, which linked directly to the crime scene.
“We had him in our sights,” said Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau, adding that the other four detainees could provide information about the planning and execution of the heist. However, none of the stolen jewels have yet been recovered.
Two other suspects had already been charged on Wednesday with theft and criminal conspiracy. Authorities believe they were among the four individuals who entered the museum while two accomplices waited outside.
Both men were placed in pre-trial detention. One, a 34-year-old Algerian national, was arrested at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport as he prepared to board a flight to Algeria. His DNA was found on one of the scooters used in the escape.
The second suspect, a 39-year-old unlicensed taxi driver from Aubervilliers, was apprehended near his residence. Prosecutors say there is no indication he planned to flee the country.
Both individuals were known to the police for prior theft-related offenses.
The Robbery: Seven minutes, millions lost
The suspects wore high-visibility vests and balaclavas to blend in and quickly entered the first-floor gallery using a truck-mounted lift. In just seven minutes, they shattered display cases and seized priceless historical jewelry.
Though most of the stolen items remain missing, one piece, the diamond- and emerald-studded crown of Empress Eugenie, was left behind and damaged during the escape. The museum director said the crown was crushed but likely restorable.
Altogether, eight jewelry pieces were taken, and authorities fear they may have been trafficked or dismantled.
Prosecutor Beccuau noted that while police are focused on four main perpetrators, the investigation is considering a broader network that may include a backer or intended buyers.
Over 150 DNA samples, fingerprints, and other forensic traces are under analysis. Surveillance footage from public and private cameras has also allowed detectives to track the suspects’ movements across Paris and the surrounding areas. However, authorities have found no evidence of inside complicity at the Louvre itself.
