The hunt for thieves has begun in France. In the wake of the sensational theft at the Louvre Museum, police are hunting for the four men who managed to escape with eight of France's precious crown jewels. A robbery carried out in broad daylight, in the heart of the world's most famous museum, raises suspicions of organized crime involvement. Despite forecasts, the museum will remain closed today.

Meanwhile, political controversy has erupted in the country, with the debate already raging in recent months over the security of French museums, which present "a great vulnerability," as Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez admitted. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, speaking to France Inter this morning, said: "I think all French people have the feeling of having been robbed this morning. We failed," he continued. "The thieves were able to install a freight elevator" on the street, "lift people up in a matter of minutes and steal priceless jewels, giving a deplorable image of France."

The theft, according to Nuñez, was carried out by "professional" burglars, who may be "foreigners" and perhaps known for similar heists. According to the Ministry of Culture, thanks to the intervention of museum officials, "the criminals were put to flight and left their equipment behind." According to experts, the stolen jewels are difficult, if not impossible, to resell on the market and may have been commissioned or intent on obtaining precious stones "for a money laundering operation."

(Unioneonline)