Culture Minister Rachida Dati and Louvre Director Laurence des Cars in front of "Liberty Leading the People" (1830), by Eugène Delacroix, at the Louvre, in Paris, May 2, 2024. DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP
The sense of astonishment remained palpable on Monday, October 20, as countless questions about the Louvre museum's security measures went unanswered the day after the biggest heist in decades. The four perpetrators, who carried out an unprecedented burglary in the Apollo Gallery in just seven minutes and in broad daylight on Sunday, stealing eight French crown jewels (a ninth was recovered), were still on the run. The Louvre remained closed to visitors, at least until Wednesday morning. Meanwhile, the surrounding area was abuzz with activity as everyone scrambled to respond.
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Spectacular Louvre heist highlights security flaws at world's largest museum
Authorities tried to contain the emotional fallout. At 10:30 am on Monday, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez met with Culture Minister Rachida Dati and all the relevant departments to spend an hour trying to identify the security failings. Previous warnings had not led to strengthened security at the museum. In January, the president of the Louvre, Laurence des Cars, had informed Dati that the museum was in a state of "worrying obsolescence" and had suffered a "multiplying number of incidents," hence the need for major renovation. On Monday, it was announced that des Cars, under pressure, would be questioned by the senators on Wednesday.
