French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday denounced the stunning theft of jewelry from the Louvre Museum in Paris, describing it as an attack on France’s cultural history.
“The theft from the Louvre Museum is an attack on cultural assets that we value because they are part of our history,” Macron said. “We will restore business and bring the perpetrators to justice. Under the leadership of the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office, everything is being done everywhere to achieve this,” he added.
Macron said that the Louvre Museum modernization project presented in January provides for strengthening security measures.
“It will ensure that what constitutes our memory and culture is preserved and protected,” the president said.
BFMTV has released excerpts of amateur video showing the thieves carrying out their stunning coup in the viewing room containing the French Crown Jewels.
One of the perpetrators can be seen wearing a high-visibility bra and forcefully opening one of the display cabinets.
Prosecutor Laure Picau told BFMTV that eight pieces of valuable jewelry were seized. Among them were a necklace and earrings that belonged to Empress Marie Louise, Napoleon’s second wife.
Another necklace, a pair of earrings and a diadem were stolen from the collections of Queen Marie-Amelie and Queen Hortense, as well as two brooches and a diadem belonging to Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III.
Eugenie’s tiara, a priceless piece decorated with emeralds and hundreds of diamonds, was lost by thieves during the robbery and was later recovered. The crown was reportedly damaged.