Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau announced on 25/11 that the newly arrested group consists of two men aged 38-39 and two women aged 31-40, all residing in the Paris area. Le Parisien reported that one of these suspects was among the four men who carried out the break-in on 19/10, concluding the search for the direct perpetrators.

Previously, French authorities had charged four individuals: three men and one woman. The three men directly involved in the heist had prior criminal records and lived in the Aubervilliers suburbs. The female accomplice was the girlfriend of one member of this group.

An armed soldier stands guard at the Louvre museum in Paris on 30/10. Photo: AP

During the Louvre museum heist on 19/10, four thieves accessed the Apollo gallery, which houses the French royal jewelry collection. It took them only 7 minutes to steal a series of treasures estimated at 102 million USD. They used a truck with a ladder attached below the gallery window, climbed up with a lift, broke the glass, and then used cutters to open display cases before escaping on scooters.

While fleeing, the group dropped a diamond and emerald crown that once belonged to Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III. They escaped with 8 pieces of jewelry, including a diamond-encrusted emerald necklace given by Napoleon I to Empress Marie-Louise. All stolen treasures have not yet been recovered.

The heist sent shockwaves globally, sparking debate over security at French museums. A state audit report earlier this month revealed that the Louvre had prioritized expanding its appeal and acquiring artifacts over investing in security.

The museum's management acknowledged these shortcomings, pledging to increase police presence and enhance camera systems following the incident. The museum also recently closed a gallery due to safety concerns regarding its ceiling, further highlighting the challenges of protecting a historic monument that welcomes millions of visitors annually.

By Thanh Danh (According to AFP, Guardian)