Five new arrests made in Louvre heist after first two charged • FRANCE 24 English

Key Concepts:

• Louvre Robbery
• Suspect Arrests
• Paris Prosecutor
• Apollo Gallery
• DNA Samples
• Scooter Escape
• Jewelry Heist
• Organized Theft
• Criminal Conspiracy
• Shelder Airport
• Sentin Suburb

Louvre Robbery: Latest Developments and Arrests

The Louvre robbery, which occurred 10 days ago, has seen significant developments with the arrest of five new suspects in the last hour. The Paris prosecutor confirmed these arrests, stating that at least one of the new suspects is believed to have been present at the crime scene during the heist. This follows the prosecutor's announcement yesterday that two men arrested over the weekend have partially admitted their involvement in the raid on the museum. Despite these arrests, there is still no sign of the stolen jewels.

Details of the Five New Arrests

The five new arrests took place yesterday evening, around 9:00 PM, in various locations across Paris and the greater Paris area, specifically in the Sentin suburb. These arrests were made under warrants issued by magistrates appointed to the investigation. The investigators had identified several targets, and the arrests were staggered throughout the evening.

While it is too early to provide detailed profiles of the five arrested individuals, it is confirmed that one of them was a primary target of the investigators. The remaining four suspects are believed by investigators to possess information regarding the heist, including what happened to the jewels and how the operation was planned.

Evidence Leading to Arrests

The breakthrough in identifying some of the suspects is attributed to DNA samples found at the crime scene. The robbers, described as a gang of four wearing high-visibility clothing, broke into the Apollo Gallery in the Louvre on October 19th. They made their escape on scooters, leaving behind "quite a lot of kits," which facilitated their identification through DNA analysis.

Previous Arrests and Admissions

The five new arrests occurred only a few hours after the Paris prosecutor discussed the two suspects apprehended over the weekend. One of these individuals was arrested at Shelder Airport as he was attempting to board a flight to Algeria, while the other was apprehended in the Sentin region. Both of these suspects have partially admitted their involvement in the heist.

Charges and Potential Sentences

The two suspects arrested over the weekend will be charged with organized theft and criminal conspiracy. These charges carry potential sentences of 15 years and 10 years, respectively.

Stolen Items and Value

The heist involved the theft of nine items of jewelry, with an estimated value of around 88 million euros. Investigators are hopeful that the latest arrests will lead to further breakthroughs in recovering the stolen items.

Conclusion

The ongoing investigation into the Louvre robbery has intensified with the recent arrests of five new suspects, bringing the total number of individuals arrested to seven. While two suspects have partially admitted their involvement, the stolen jewels remain missing. The use of DNA evidence from the crime scene and the identification of escape routes have been crucial in advancing the investigation. The authorities are optimistic that these latest developments will aid in the recovery of the valuable stolen items and bring the perpetrators to justice.