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Louvre robbery investigation extends to Belgium
The investigation into the royal jewels worth 88 million euros stolen from the Louvre has extended to Belgium. At least 11 people are in custody, and five have been charged...
The investigation into the robbery at the Louvre Museum has extended to Belgium to trace the stolen historic jewels. About eight months ago, four people stole eight French royal jewels valued at 88 million euros.
French authorities are now investigating both the whereabouts of the items and a wider network that may have organized the theft. So far, at least 11 people have been detained, and five have been charged in connection with the investigation.
Highlights
- The total value of the eight jewels stolen in the robbery is reported to be 88 million euros.
- At least 11 suspects have been detained, and five suspects have been charged.
- The investigation reached a Belgian connection through phone records of some suspects.
- Authorities have still not been able to locate the jewels.
Phone records led to Belgium
A new clue in the investigation came from records obtained from some suspects' mobile phones. The examination of these devices revealed calls, contacts, photos, and even traces of some dating apps.
Additionally, photos related to the Louvre and the Apollo Gallery, where the jewels were kept, were found on some suspects' phones. The same examination also included geographic records and contacts pointing to Belgium.
Following these findings, it was reported that French investigators are working with local authorities in Belgium. However, neither the Belgian federal prosecutor's office nor the Paris prosecutor's office confirmed this cooperation.
Suspects and initial statements
According to the investigation, some suspects are from Eastern Europe. The German news agency dpa reported that these individuals specialize in cargo theft. Brussels-based VRT News revealed that the suspects had previously been detained in Belgium for a truck robbery.
Among the suspects named in the file, Abdoulaye N. said on October 17 that an Eastern European man offered him the robbery. Another suspect living in Aubervilliers, Ghelamallah A., said he was assigned by an Arab man to participate.
However, so far, no concrete evidence has emerged proving the establishment of a criminal organization. Authorities are also considering the possibility that the suspects may have disposed of the jewels within six days after the robbery.
Escape moment and lost trace
Some of the detained individuals were seen rummaging through their pockets in footage taken in a parking lot in Paris after the robbery. These images have led to speculation that one of the suspects might have been searching for small stones.
One of the items carried in the robbery, the Empress Eugénie's crown, was reportedly damaged during the incident and is considered the ninth piece dropped during the escape. Experts say that breaking the stolen jewels into pieces and selling them separately makes tracking even more difficult.
According to a new book published in Le Monde, the thieves may have separated some pieces due to a mistake made while escaping. This assessment increases concerns that the jewels might have been fragmented before being quickly put on the market.
Court process and possible outcome
L’Avenir wrote that some unnamed suspects are planned to be brought to an "important" French hearing yesterday. One of the book's authors suggested that this hearing could reveal the whereabouts of the jewels.
It is considered that those detained in the file might be willing to negotiate with French authorities because they face heavy organized crime penalties. However, the Paris prosecutor's office did not provide additional information about whether the hearing took place or its purpose.
For French authorities, the issue is not only about finding the jewels. The investigation also aims to clarify whether the Louvre robbery was an individual act or part of a broader organized plan.
Context: The Louvre robbery has become one of France's most talked-about art crimes. The failure to find the jewels has turned the case into one closely followed both in the art world and in judicial investigation circles..
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