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French prosecutors say five new suspects have been arrested in connection with the £76m jewellery heist at the Louvre Museum, bringing the total number of arrests to seven. The prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, confirmed the latest arrests in an interview with French radio station RTL. She said one suspect was identified through DNA traces found at the scene but added it was “too early” to provide details about the suspects. All five were detained late Wednesday during coordinated raids in Paris and nearby areas. However, overnight searches failed to recover any of the stolen jewels. The development follows earlier arrests of two suspects, whom prosecutors say have “partially” confessed to their roles in the October 19 robbery. Tribune Online reports that four masked thieves, disguised as construction workers, carried out the heist in less than eight minutes while the museum was open to visitors, cutting into display cases with power tools after gaining access through a window using a vehicle-mounted lift. Continuing, Beccuau urged those involved to return the jewels, saying they are now impossible to sell. “These jewels are now, of course, unsellable,” she said. “Anyone who buys them would be guilty of concealment of stolen goods. It’s still time to give them back.” Of the two men already in custody, one, a 34-year-old Algerian, was arrested at Charles de Gaulle airport while attempting to leave for Algeria without a return ticket. The other, a 39-year-old resident of Aubervilliers, was detained at his home. Both were linked to the crime through DNA evidence found on the stolen display cases and getaway scooters. According to SkyNews, the heist has raised concerns about security at the Louvre. Paris police chief, Patrice Faure told lawmakers that outdated systems had created vulnerabilities and revealed that the museum’s security camera authorisation had expired months earlier. He said police were first alerted not by alarms, but by a passing cyclist who saw helmeted men using a mechanical lift and called the emergency line. ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
