‘Priceless’ jewels stolen in raid at Paris’s Louvre Museum

A manhunt is underway for a gang of thieves who broke into Paris’ Louvre museum in broad daylight and stole jewels described as priceless.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunes said it took only a few minutes for the masked suspects to carry out the robbery on Sunday morning, shortly after the museum opened its doors to visitors.

The gang appear to have used a mechanical ladder to gain access to a first-floor window before smashing shop windows and escaping on scooters.

Officials have not confirmed which items were taken, but the gallery that was targeted is home to the French royal jewels.

The theft led to the evacuation of the Louvre, which remained closed throughout Sunday.

The jewels were stolen from the Galeria d’Apollon (Gallery of Apollo) around 09:30 local time (08:30 GMT), the French interior ministry said.

French media reported that the thieves used small chainsaws to gain access to the building. A government minister said three or four people were involved.

An extension ladder mounted on a vehicle was seen leading to a window a stone’s throw from the Seine, apparently abandoned by the gang.

No one was injured in the incident.

French Culture Minister Rashida Dati said an object was found near the museum that appeared to have been dropped during the escape.

Several French media reported that it was a 19th-century crown belonging to Empress Eugenie, adding that it had been broken.

According to the Louvre’s website, the ornate crown includes golden eagles and is encrusted with 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds.

Apart from their commercial value, Nunes said the stolen items had a cultural and historical value that could not be calculated, describing them as “priceless” and “of immeasurable heritage value”.

Police were seen turning tourists away from the museum, the world’s most visited, throughout Sunday as people continued to arrive, ignoring the closure and investigation.

American tourists Jim and Joan Carpenter said they were about to see Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa when security “walked us out of the gallery”.

The couple were escorted past the Galeria d’Apollon and through an emergency exit, Ms Carpenter told Reuters.

Mr Carpenter said there was “a lot of confusion” at the museum and guards told the pair there were “technical difficulties” when they asked what was going on.

“I knew something was up because of the way they swept the whole museum,” Ms Carpenter said.

Mr Carpenter added: “But it’s great. It’s our last day of a long journey and it’s the most exciting part of today.”