Two Detained in $102M Louvre Jewel Theft as Search for Other Suspects Continues

Paris — Two men have been detained in connection with the October 19 theft of jewels from the Louvre, French prosecutors said, as investigators press on to locate other members of the group believed to have carried out the raid.

Officials say the suspects, a 34-year-old Algerian national and a 39-year-old man, have partly acknowledged involvement. Prosecutors continue to track at least two other individuals who remain at large after the eight-minute operation that removed eight pieces of French crown jewels from display.

Investigators described a rapid, forceful entry: the thieves used power tools to breach display cases and gained access through a museum window aided by a freight lift. Surveillance footage shows four people took part, and authorities reported no current evidence of direct collusion from museum staff.

The 34-year-old was arrested at Charles de Gaulle Airport while apparently trying to leave for Algeria; his DNA matched traces found on a scooter linked to the robbery. DNA from the 39-year-old was reportedly detected on a display case and other items left at the scene.

The incident has exposed weaknesses in the Louvre's protection systems. Paris Police Chief Patrice Faure acknowledged parts of the museum's surveillance network are obsolete and that permissions to operate some cameras had lapsed in July, creating critical gaps. A large-scale $93 million security overhaul, which includes laying about 60 kilometres of new cabling, is not expected to finish until 2029-2030.

Culture Minister Rachida Dati noted that alarms functioned but that broader defence shortcomings contributed to the loss. Security experts warn the stolen jewels could be altered or disassembled to hinder identification and recovery.

As police intensify efforts to identify and capture the remaining suspects, they are also urging lawmakers to approve advanced tools, including AI-driven anomaly detection, to strengthen protection of high-value cultural items. The Louvre, coping with staffing limits and heavy visitor numbers, now faces heightened scrutiny over how it secures France's national treasures.

The hunt for the missing jewels and those who took them remains active, with investigators racing to recover the items and close the security gaps revealed by the theft.