BREAKTHROUGH

French Police Arrest 5 More People Over Louvre Heist

The Paris prosecutor said one suspect is connected by DNA.

Five more people were arrested on Thursday over the daylight Louvre heist, including one suspect tied by DNA, the Paris prosecutor told the Associated Press. Three of the four alleged jewelry thieves are now in custody, authorities said. There have been seven arrests in total from late-night operations in Paris and nearby Seine-Saint-Denis. Prosecutor Laure Beccuau said the response was an “exceptional mobilization,” with 100 investigators working seven days a week, analyzing roughly 150 forensic samples, and 189 items sealed as evidence. The arrests have yet to uncover the jewels worth around $102 million, she said. Only Empress Eugénie’s crown has been recovered after being dropped during the escape. It’s reportedly damaged but fixable. Two men, aged 34 and 39, were charged on Wednesday after spending nearly four days in custody. The suspects, who are from Aubervilliers, which is north of Paris, are accused of theft by an organized gang and criminal conspiracy. One of the suspects had a one-way ticket to Algeria before he was stopped at Charles de Gaulle Airport. His DNA matched that found on the scooter used in the getaway. The prosecutor said both “partially admitted” their involvement.