PARIS — More than 100 investigators are trying to figure out how the thieves committed the brazen crime. robbery at the Louvre A museum in Paris is trying to recover stolen jewelry and bring those responsible to justice.
The daylong theft of centuries-old jewels from the world's most visited museum is believed to be serious. cultural and monetary value attracted the attention of the whole world with its boldness and details reminiscent of the plot of the film.
But so far little has been revealed about how the investigation is developing, a source of frustration for those accustomed to a 24-hour stream of information in American crime publications or British tabloids.
The suspects, like the jewels themselves, remain out of sight, the case file is shrouded in secrecy, and the French authorities are noted for their restraint.
Paris prosecutor Laure Becquo said on Sunday that more details would emerge after the suspects' detention ends, likely around midweek, depending on the charges. But here's what we know so far about this case:
Authorities said it took only a few minutes for the thieves to ride the elevator On October 19, windows were smashed and eight items worth about 88 million euros ($102 million) were stolen. tiara, necklace and single earring from a set associated with the 19th-century queens Marie-Amelie and Hortense.
Becquo has not publicly announced what charges the suspects could face, although French media reported the charges include criminal conspiracy and organized theft, which could carry heavy fines and years in prison.
Becquau told investigators made several arrests Saturday night, but I didn't name them or say how many. One suspect, she added, was stopped at a Paris airport while trying to leave the country.
In France, where privacy laws are strict, images of criminal suspects are not published, as is often the case in other countries. Suspects are not paraded in front of cameras when arrested and are not shown in photographs.
The presumption of innocence is written into the French constitution and is deeply valued in society. The French often express shock at the spectacle of criminal trials in the United States, including in 2011, when the media photographed Dominique Strauss-Kahn, then a candidate in the French presidential election, on a “criminal walk” to a New York prison after he was charged with sexually assaulting a hotel maid. There were accusations eventually fired.
Information about the investigations must be kept secret under French law, a policy known as the “secret instruction,” and only the prosecutor can speak publicly about developments.
Police and investigators are not supposed to release information about arrests or suspects without prosecutorial approval, although police union officials have released partial details in previous high-profile cases. Beccuo complained Saturday that information about the ongoing investigation had been leaked.
A police official who was not authorized to speak publicly about the ongoing case told The Associated Press that two men in their 30s, both known to police, were taken into custody. He said one suspect was arrested while trying to board a plane bound for Algeria.
Additional arrests may follow as the investigation continues.
More than 100 investigators Becquo said are assigned to the case are combing through 150 DNA samples, surveillance footage and evidence left behind by the thieves.
Those appointed include the Anti-Gang Brigade, a specialist police unit that deals with armed robberies, serious burglaries and art thefts.
Recovering jewelry can be one of the most difficult parts of an investigator's job. French authorities have added the jewels to Interpol's database of stolen works of art, a global repository of some 57,000 missing cultural objects.
Interpol, the world's largest international police network, does not issue arrest warrants. But if authorities fear a suspect may be a flight risk, Interpol can disseminate information through a color-coded notification system.
If necessary, French investigators may also cooperate with European authorities. They can contact the European Union's judicial cooperation agency, Eurojust, or its enforcement agency, Europol. Eurojust works through judicial cooperation between prosecutors and judges, while Europol works with police authorities.
Both could help facilitate investigations and arrests throughout the 27-member bloc. Requests for assistance must come from national authorities, and no single organization can initiate an investigation.
Becquau said more details would be released once the suspects' detention had expired. How long this will last depends on what they are accused of. If they are being investigated on suspicion of conspiracy, they could be detained for up to 96 hours before charges are brought, as French media reported.
But don't expect a flood of updates. Charges and sentences in France are not usually published. Courts in France are not televised and journalists are not allowed to film or photograph anything in the courtroom during the trial.
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Metz reported from Rabat, Morocco. Molly Quell contributed reporting from The Hague.
