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France Arrests Five More in Louvre Heist, Including Prime Suspect, as Jewels Remain Missing

DNA traces guided overnight raids around Paris, building a case that has already produced two charged suspects who partially admitted involvement.

Overview

  • Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said five suspects were detained on Oct. 29 in Paris and Seine-Saint-Denis, with one linked by DNA to the October 19 robbery.
  • The total of seven arrests includes two men charged with organized theft and criminal conspiracy after partial admissions during questioning.
  • One charged suspect was stopped at Charles de Gaulle Airport as he tried to fly to Algeria, and investigators say DNA tied the pair to a getaway scooter and shattered display glass.
  • Despite new searches, none of the eight Napoleonic-era crown-jewel pieces valued at about €88 million has been recovered.
  • Prosecutors report no evidence of inside help but are examining a wider network, as the Louvre faces scrutiny over security gaps exposed by the sub-eight-minute heist.