French authorities express frustration over premature disclosure of arrests in Louvre jewelry heist case. Public prosecutor Laure Beccuau criticizes the early revelation, citing potential harm to the ongoing investigation involving stolen jewels and suspects. While not specifying the number of individuals detained, Beccuau confirms the apprehension of one man at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport as he tried to leave the country.
Reports indicate a second suspect was also apprehended in the Paris region on the same night. The current whereabouts of the stolen jewels remain undisclosed. Both detainees, reportedly from Seine-Saint-Denis, were swiftly captured by police following days of surveillance. One of them was intercepted just before boarding a flight to Algeria.
Beccuau, serving as Paris Prosecutor and head of France’s anti-organized crime unit, refrains from revealing further details at this stage. The suspects are under pre-trial detention for investigation on charges of “organized theft” and “criminal conspiracy.” They can be detained for up to 96 hours, with additional information expected post the custody period.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez commends the investigators for their diligent work and stresses the need for continued discreet inquiries. Authorities suspect the detained individuals to be linked to the daring robbery at the renowned Louvre museum, where valuable jewelry, including royal pieces like sapphire and emerald necklaces, were stolen. Notably, a diamond brooch with 2,438 diamonds and Empress Eugenie’s emerald crown were among the looted items, the latter being dropped and later recovered with damage.