The Louvre was robbed in Paris — the museum is closed

There was a robbery in the Louvre in Paris. This was announced today, October 19, by the Minister of Culture of France Rashida Dati.

"There was a robbery at the opening of the Louvre this morning. I am on site with the museum staff and the police," she wrote on one of the social networks.

According to Le Figaro, the incident occurred after the first visitors arrived at an unspecified time. Law enforcement agencies are working on the spot to establish the exact circumstances of the robbery and the possible disappearance of valuable works of art or property. The museum administration announced the closure "for exceptional reasons," without providing additional details.

Later it became known that three masked intruders climbed to the window of one of the exhibition halls on a freight elevator from the Seine Embankment, where the facade is being repaired. Breaking the glass, the two got inside and stole nine items from the collection of jewelry of Napoleon and the Empress. After that, they managed to escape. However, later one of the stolen jewels was found near the museum. According to media reports, this is the broken crown of Empress Eugenie Beauharnais. The police are investigating.