On 19/9, the two men used tape to affix two pictures, each measuring 30 x 40 cm, to a wall in the crowded exhibition hall where Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa masterpiece is displayed.
The first picture depicted one of the two men in armor, while the other was a portrait of two men and a woman.
Museum security staff detained the two men and alerted the police. Law enforcement subsequently arrested them on charges of minor wall damage. During questioning, the two German citizens stated they acted merely for entertainment.
According to police sources, the two men will be summoned to court once the museum officially files a complaint. The Mona Lisa, currently protected behind thick glass, was not damaged during the incident.
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Visitors admire Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa painting at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France on 22/7. Photo: AFP |
Museum officials are currently on high alert following a series of thefts at museums and galleries across France. These incidents have revealed security vulnerabilities in some cases and raised questions about whether criminal gangs view these locations as "easy targets."
The Louvre Museum itself became a target last October when eight jewelry pieces, valued at millions of USD, were stolen in broad daylight. Although four suspects have been arrested, the jewelry has not yet been recovered, despite a large-scale search by French investigators.
The break-in shocked the world, leading to widespread criticism of France and exposing numerous security flaws, including the museum's outdated surveillance camera system.
Many weaknesses in the Louvre's security operations were highlighted in an audit commissioned by the museum in 2019, but these findings were never addressed.
The Louvre welcomed about 9 million visitors last year, far exceeding its designed capacity and leading to overcrowding. In May, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a major renovation plan for the museum, including the construction of a new space for the Mona Lisa and a new museum entrance.
Huyen Le (According to AFP)
