Paris woke up to a stunning act of audacity as the Louvre Museum, one of the world’s most iconic cultural landmarks, was robbed in a meticulously planned heist that lasted only seven minutes. France’s Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, confirmed the incident on X, stating that she was at the scene alongside law enforcement officials and that an extensive investigation was underway.
Visitors inside the museum at the time reported being locked in by authorities as part of emergency security measures. The Louvre later announced on social media that it would remain closed for the day due to “exceptional circumstances.”
According to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, the stolen jewels were of “inestimable value.” AFP reported that a group of three to four thieves carried out the theft in the Gallery of Apollo, where they seized priceless jewelry from two separate exhibits before escaping undetected in just seven minutes. The operation’s precision has left both French officials and global art experts astonished.
Originally a royal residence until King Louis XIV moved to Versailles in the late 1600s, the Louvre has become the most visited museum in the world, drawing around nine million visitors annually. The recent theft now joins the ranks of history’s most daring and swift art crimes.