Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the daring theft of priceless jewels from the Louvre Museum in Paris, according to a recent report by the news agency AFP. The suspects were detained at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport and in the Paris region, respectively, just a week after the audacious heist. The thieves broke into the museum during opening hours, using a crane to smash an upstairs window and steal eight precious pieces worth an estimated $102 million. The thieves then escaped on motorbikes, prompting a massive search across France. A new video emerged this week, showing the robbers escaping with the crown jewels, dressed in construction gear and using a hydraulic lift. The footage reveals the thieves' bold plan, including hijacking the lift, disguising it, and attempting to torch it, but guards intervened. The investigation is now in the hands of a specialized Paris police unit, known as the BRB, which handles high-profile robberies. The stolen items, spanning two centuries of history, belonged to French queens and empresses. The items include Empress Eugenie's tiara and crown, crafted by renowned jeweller Alexandre-Gabriel Lemonnier, and a sapphire necklace and earrings worn by Queen Marie Amelie and Queen Hortense. The thieves also took a necklace and emerald earrings, wedding gifts from Napoleon I to Empress Marie Louise. The Louvre, the world's most visited museum, houses over 33,000 artefacts, including antique items, sculptures, and paintings, with the Mona Lisa as its star attraction. The theft has sparked a debate on the value of these jewels, with France's Ministry of Culture emphasizing their 'priceless heritage value'. The investigation continues as authorities strive to recover the stolen treasures.
