Louvre theft: evidence points towards Belgian suspects
Images of the Paris museum were found on the mobile phones of criminals arrested across the Belgian border, according to French media.
Louvre theft: evidence points towards Belgian suspects
The investigation into the spectacular burglary of the Paris museum last October has taken an unexpected turn towards Belgium. According to revelations by Paris Match and the newspaper Le Parisien, which rely on judicial sources, Belgian law enforcement would have discovered images of the interior of the Louvre on the smartphones of several individuals arrested, with particular focus on the Apollo Gallery, the site of the crime.
This discovery could link criminal gangs specialising in the theft of merchandise, originating from Eastern Europe and apprehended in Belgium, to four people already being held in provisional detention in France. The two countries would have opened a joint investigation, reports the dpa agency, although the Paris prosecutor's office has refrained from any official comment.
On 19 October of last year, masked men had entered the establishment to steal royal jewels worth approximately 88 million euros. The haul has not been recovered to date. This robbery, which had made the rounds of newsrooms worldwide and had raised serious questions about the security of the site, had precipitated the departure of its director, Laurence de Cars.
The operating method had been well-rehearsed: a crane lorry parked outside, two men on scooters keeping watch in the street, and two others using the vehicle to access a first-floor balcony, from where they had entered through an opening. The entire operation had taken place in just a few minutes.
Source: 24ur.com
Source: 24ur