The piece found would be Empress Eugênia’s crown, which, according to the French press, is fractured; museum was closed all day for investigation
The Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, stated this Sunday (19) that the thieves who robbed one of the galleries lost one of the stolen jewels during their escape, apparently Empress Eugênia’s crown. In an interview with the “TF1” channel, when asked about the location of a crown, Dati replied that “a jewel was actually found that is being evaluated”, without specifying what it is, although the newspaper The Parisianwithout citing sources, indicated shortly before that it is Empress Eugênia’s crown and that it is fractured.
The minister highlighted that “everything happened very quickly”, that the perpetrators are “professionals” and that, although an assessment of what was stolen is being carried out, the jewels that were in the showcases of the collection of Napoleon and the French kings have an “incalculable” value. He insisted that everything occurred “without violence”, that there was also no panic among the public, which was removed by museum staff with “professionalism”.
Louvre sources explained, in a message to EFE Agencythat moments after opening the doors at 9:30 am (local time, 4:30 am Brasília), individuals entered the Apolo gallery through a window that they broke. They stole jewelry that was in the windows, the precise list of which is being drawn up, and fled on two motorcycles. The museum was closed for the entire day “to preserve evidence” for the investigation.
Dati acknowledged that, as France is a country with a historical heritage of great value, its museums have become targets for criminals, and that their vulnerability is an “old” problem.
*With information from EFE
Published by Nícolas Robert
