A daring robbery was recorded this morning at the Louvre Museum in Paris, shocking French and international public opinion.
The news was confirmed by the French Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati , who is currently at the scene.
"A robbery occurred this morning, at the opening of the Louvre museum. There are no reports of injuries. I am at the scene along with museum staff and the police. Investigations are ongoing," the minister announced on social media.
According to the daily Le Parisien, three masked perpetrators entered the museum from the Seine River side, where construction work is currently underway.
They used a technical elevator to reach directly the gallery they had targeted, where precious objects of French imperial heritage are exhibited.
After breaking the security glass, two of the perpetrators entered, while the third stood outside to guard.
They stole nine objects from the jewelry collection of Napoleon and the Empress, including a necklace, a brooch and a crown.
Sources within the museum confirm that the legendary "Régent" diamond, the largest in the collection weighing over 140 carats, was not affected by the robbery.
The value of the damage has not yet been announced, while French police are at the scene and have launched investigations to identify and capture the perpetrators.
The Louvre Museum is currently closed to visitors.
The most visited museum institution in the world, the Louvre recorded around 9 million visitors in 2024, of which 80% were foreign tourists.