Esther Imonmion
The Louvre Museum in Paris reopened on Wednesday, three days after jewellery worth €88 million (£76m; $102m) was stolen in a daring daylight robbery.
Visitors were allowed back into the museum from 09:00 local time (07:00 GMT), but the Apollo Gallery — where the heist occurred — remains closed.
According to police, four masked thieves used a truck equipped with mechanical ladders to access the Gallery of Apollo via a balcony overlooking the River Seine at about 09:30 on Sunday. Two of them cut through a glass window on the first floor using a battery-powered disc cutter, threatened guards, and smashed display cases containing jewels.
The entire operation lasted less than eight minutes. The thieves fled on scooters, leaving behind a damaged crown that once belonged to Empress Eugénie, apparently dropped during their escape.
The stolen items include a diamond and emerald necklace Emperor Napoleon gave to his wife, a tiara worn by Empress Eugénie, and several pieces formerly owned by Queen Marie-Amélie.
French President Emmanuel Macron has described the theft as an attack on the nation’s heritage and has ordered tighter security measures at cultural institutions across the country.
A preliminary report revealed that one in three rooms in the Louvre lacked CCTV coverage and that the wider alarm system failed to activate during the heist. However, the culture ministry stated that the museum’s broader alarms did sound and that staff followed protocol by alerting security forces and protecting visitors.
The museum, which had shut its doors immediately after the robbery, assured visitors with pre-booked tickets that they would receive refunds.
Museum director Laurence des Cars is expected to appear before the French Senate’s culture committee later on Wednesday.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said he has “every confidence” that the culprits will be caught, while prosecutors believe the thieves acted under orders from a criminal organisation.
Investigations are ongoing.