The Paris prosecutor mentioned Saturday two new suspects have been handed preliminary prices for his or her alleged involvement within the crown jewels heist at the Louvre museum, three days after they have been arrested by police as a part of the sweeping investigation.
Laure Beccuau, the prosecutor, mentioned a 37-year-old suspect was charged with theft by an organized gang and felony conspiracy. He was recognized to authorities for earlier thefts, the assertion mentioned.
The opposite suspect, a 38-year-old girl, was accused of being an confederate. They have been each incarcerated.
They each denied involvement, the prosecutor mentioned.
The lawyer for the girl, Adrien Sorrentino, informed reporters his consumer is “devastated” as a result of she disputes the accusations.
“She doesn’t perceive how she is implicated in any of the weather she is accused of,” he mentioned.
Jewels haven’t been recovered
Officers mentioned the jewels stolen within the Oct. 19 heist haven’t been recovered — a trove valued round US$102 million that features a diamond-and-emerald necklace Napoleon gave to Empress Marie-Louise as a marriage present, jewels tied to Nineteenth-century Queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense, and Empress Eugénie’s pearl-and-diamond tiara.
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Five people were arrested by police on Wednesday in reference to the case, together with one tied to the heist by DNA. That particular person is suspected of belonging to the crew of 4 who used a freight elevate truck to enter the Louvre. The prosecutor didn’t specify whether or not the particular person was amongst these charged on Saturday.
The three others have been launched with out prices, Beccuau mentioned.
Two earlier suspects, males aged 34 and 39 from Aubervilliers, north of Paris, have been charged this week with theft by an organized gang and felony conspiracy.
Beccuau mentioned each gave “minimalist” statements and “partially admitted” their involvement. The 2 are believed to be the lads who compelled their means into the Apollo Gallery. One was stopped at Charles-de-Gaulle Airport with a one-way ticket to Algeria; his DNA matched a scooter used within the getaway.
About 100 investigators concerned
Neither names nor intensive biographical particulars in regards to the suspects have been made public.
Details about investigations is supposed to be secret below French regulation, to keep away from compromising police work and to make sure victims’ proper to privateness, a coverage referred to as “secret d’instruction.″ Solely the prosecutor can converse publicly about developments, and violators will be prosecuted.
Earlier this week, Beccuau praised an “distinctive mobilization” — about 100 investigators seven days per week, with roughly 150 forensic samples analyzed and 189 objects sealed as proof.
It took robbers lower than eight minutes to steal the jewels. The crew of 4 used a freight elevate, permitting two of them to drive a window and lower into two show instances with disc cutters, earlier than the 4 fled on two scooters towards jap Paris.
Solely the “near-simultaneous” arrival of police and museum safety stopped the thieves from torching the elevate and destroying essential proof, the prosecutor mentioned.
Investigators mentioned there isn’t any signal of insider assist for now, although they don’t seem to be ruling out a wider community past the 4 on digicam.
In a separate case, Inside Minister Laurent Nuñez mentioned six individuals have been arrested on Thursday quickly after a theft at a gold refining laboratory within the metropolis of Lyon throughout which thieves used explosives. The loot, which was estimated to be price 12 million euros ($13.9 million) has been recovered, Nuñez mentioned on X.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
