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PTC News Desk: Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the theft of valuable jewellery from the Louvre Museum in Paris, AFP reported, citing sources familiar with the investigation.One suspect was detained around 10 p.m. (2000 GMT) on Saturday at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport while attempting to board an international flight, and the second was apprehended shortly afterward in the Paris region.The daring robbery, which took place last Sunday, involved the theft of royal crown jewels from the Louvre — the world’s most visited museum. The thieves reportedly used a crane to smash an upper-floor window during opening hours and made off with eight precious pieces valued at approximately $102 million. They later fled on motorbikes, sparking a large-scale manhunt across France.Earlier this week, new footage surfaced showing two suspects dressed as construction workers escaping with the jewels using a hydraulic lift. Another video captured one of the robbers cutting through a glass display case as visitors passed by.The Paris prosecutor’s office has assigned the case to the BRB, a specialised police unit that handles major robbery investigations.The eight stolen items span two centuries of French history and once belonged to queens and empresses. Among them were Empress Eugénie’s tiara and crown, crafted by famed jeweller Alexandre-Gabriel Lemonnier soon after her 1853 marriage to Napoleon III. While the tiara remains missing, the crown was discarded by the thieves during their getaway.Seven of the eight stolen pieces were added to the museum’s collection within the past 40 years. France’s Ministry of Culture described the jewels as being of “immeasurable heritage value,” noting that while their historical worth is beyond calculation, their market value can still be estimated.The Louvre, which attracts up to 30,000 visitors daily, is home to more than 33,000 artefacts — including world-renowned masterpieces such as the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and the Winged Victory of Samothrace.
