Overview

• France’s Culture Ministry published the official inventory of the eight stolen pieces, and authorities confirmed two items were recovered, including Empress Eugénie’s crown found damaged near the museum.
• Four masked perpetrators posing as workers used a truck-mounted lift and angle grinders to enter the Galleria d’Apollo and smash two high-security cases before fleeing on two scooters in roughly 4–7 minutes.
• The Paris prosecutor opened an inquiry for organised theft and criminal association, with around 60 investigators assigned and lines of inquiry that include experienced professionals, possible foreign links, and organised crime.
• The Louvre remained closed on Monday after initially signaling a partial reopening, as political scrutiny of security lapses grew alongside union demands for staffing and an independent review.
• A preliminary Court of Accounts assessment cited significant surveillance gaps at the museum, while experts warned the highly identifiable jewels may be disassembled quickly, making the next 24–48 hours critical for recovery.