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Louvre Heist: Two Suspects Make Partial Admissions, Face Preliminary Charges

Police detailed aging security, plus an expired camera authorization that exposed critical weaknesses.

Overview

  • Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said both men are under preliminary investigation for organized theft and criminal conspiracy after acknowledging limited involvement.
  • The 96-hour detention limit expires later Wednesday, requiring prosecutors to charge, seek a judge’s extension, or release the suspects.
  • None of the eight stolen Crown Jewels has been recovered, with the haul valued at about €88 million after a theft executed in under eight minutes.
  • Paris police chief Patrice Faure cited analog-era video systems, a lapsed authorization to operate cameras since July, and renovations not due to finish before 2029–2030.
  • Investigators said the first alert came from a cyclist rather than museum alarms, prompting scrutiny of the alert chain and calls for tools such as AI-based anomaly detection.