Priceless’ jewellery stolen in daring daylight heist at Louvre, says French minister

France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Sunday that jewellery stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris was “priceless”, after a group of thieves carried out a swift daylight robbery at the world-famous institution.

Speaking to French media outlets France Inter, France Info, and Le Monde, Nunez said that “three or four” suspects targeted two display cases inside the museum’s “Gallerie d’Apollon” (Apollo’s Gallery), managing to complete the heist in just seven minutes.

Earlier, France’s Culture Minister Rachida Dati confirmed a break-in at the museum and said it had been closed for the day following the incident. “A hold-up took place this morning at the opening of the Louvre Museum,” Dati wrote on social media platform X, using a term that can also mean “robbery” in French.

“No injuries were reported. I’m on site with museum staff and police,” she added.

A member of Dati’s team told AFP that at least one person had entered the museum, without providing details about the stolen items.

The Louvre announced the closure “for exceptional reasons” and has not yet commented further on the theft.

The “Gallerie d’Apollon,” known for housing royal crowns and historic gems, is one of the museum’s most visited sections. French authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, which occurred shortly after the museum opened its doors to visitors.