In brief
Following their arrest, two suspects involved in the high-profile theft at the Louvre have acknowledged their connection to the crime. Prosecutor Laure Beccuau indicated that while they have partially confessed, the stolen items, including invaluable crown jewels, remain missing. Investigators continue to monitor potential links to a larger gang and have enhanced security measures at cultural sites across France.
Two men arrested in connection with the Louvre theft two weeks ago have 'partially recognised' their involvement in the brazen heist, according to officials.
The pair in custody are suspected of being the two who used power tools to enter the museum's Apollon gallery and steal some of the French crown jewels.
Items worth €88m (£76m; $102m) were taken from the world's most-visited museum on 19 October, when four thieves broke into the building in broad daylight.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau stated that the jewels had not yet been recovered, and the gang involved could be larger than the four people captured on CCTV.
The two men, both in their thirties, have criminal records and were identified by DNA found during investigations.
One of the men was arrested as he attempted to board a one-way flight to Algeria; however, reports clarified the other man had no plans to leave France. Current evidence suggests no inside involvement from museum staff, but authorities are not ruling out additional suspects beyond the four seen on tape.
During the heist, the robbers exploited the museum's opening hours, using a stolen vehicle-mounted mechanical lift to access the Galerie d'Apollon. Once inside, they employed a disc cutter to breach display cases and seize the valuable jewelry.
Security measures across cultural institutions in France have been tightened following the incident, with some of the Louvre's most precious jewels transferred to the Bank of France for enhanced security.
