Four more people have been arrested as part of the investigation into last month's theft of precious jewellery at the Louvre Museum, the Paris prosecutor's office says. Two men, aged 38 and 39, and two women, aged 31 and 40, were arrested on Tuesday. All four are from the Paris region.
Among them is thought to be the last member of a four-man gang that allegedly carried out the daylight heist, according to French media. The other three suspected thieves have already been arrested and charged, officials say.
Police now have up to 96 hours to question them. No trace has thus far been found of the stolen jewels - worth €88m (£76m; $102m) - which were taken on October 19.
Four people have already been charged over the heist - three men and a woman, who also live in the Paris region. A 38-year-old woman was charged earlier this month with complicity in organised theft and criminal conspiracy, while a 37-year-old man was charged with theft and criminal conspiracy. Both suspects have denied any involvement.
The heist occurred when the group of four men used a stolen vehicle-mounted mechanical lift to access the Louvre's Galerie d'Apollon. They used a disc cutter to crack open display cases containing the jewellery. The thieves were inside for only four minutes before making their escape on scooters, switching to cars shortly after.
Among the stolen items was a crown that was accidentally dropped during the escape. Notably, eight other pieces were taken, including an emerald-and-diamond necklace given to Empress Marie-Louise by Napoleon I.
French authorities have indicated that the heist involved petty criminals rather than organized crime professionals. Security measures have since been tightened at the Louvre, with some of its most precious jewels moved to the Bank of France for safekeeping.
Among them is thought to be the last member of a four-man gang that allegedly carried out the daylight heist, according to French media. The other three suspected thieves have already been arrested and charged, officials say.
Police now have up to 96 hours to question them. No trace has thus far been found of the stolen jewels - worth €88m (£76m; $102m) - which were taken on October 19.
Four people have already been charged over the heist - three men and a woman, who also live in the Paris region. A 38-year-old woman was charged earlier this month with complicity in organised theft and criminal conspiracy, while a 37-year-old man was charged with theft and criminal conspiracy. Both suspects have denied any involvement.
The heist occurred when the group of four men used a stolen vehicle-mounted mechanical lift to access the Louvre's Galerie d'Apollon. They used a disc cutter to crack open display cases containing the jewellery. The thieves were inside for only four minutes before making their escape on scooters, switching to cars shortly after.
Among the stolen items was a crown that was accidentally dropped during the escape. Notably, eight other pieces were taken, including an emerald-and-diamond necklace given to Empress Marie-Louise by Napoleon I.
French authorities have indicated that the heist involved petty criminals rather than organized crime professionals. Security measures have since been tightened at the Louvre, with some of its most precious jewels moved to the Bank of France for safekeeping.
