Pair arrested for Louvre robbery ‘were tied to the scene by strands of their hair found

The two burglars who were arrested on suspicion of stealing £76million-worth of jewels from the Louvre were allegedly tied to the scene of the crime thanks to hair strands found in a helmet and high-viz jacket. 

The two men, who have not been named, were taken into custody a week after the spectacular seven-minute heist at the world’s most visited art museum.

Investigators were able to trace one of the suspects, a 39-year-old French-Algerian man, through DNA in a strand of hair found inside a motorcycle helmet abandoned by the robbers during their escape, according to French newspaper Le Parisien.

The other suspect, a French national born in Mali, was pinned down thanks to DNA traces on a high-viz vest he left on the street, which was recovered by a witness.

Both in their 30s and from Paris’ northern suburbs, had been under surveillance thanks to the forensic evidence left behind at the crime scene.

Their DNA is thought to be among 150 traces left behind, including on a flatbed truck with an extendable ladder that was used to get up to a first-floor window.

When one was seen heading to Paris Charles De Gaulle airport at around 10pm on Saturday, to get a flight to Algeria, investigators took the decision to swoop.

‘There was a coordinated operation by armed officers to arrest the man, who was well known to the authorities,’ said one.

Two burglars arrested on suspicion of stealing £76million-worth of jewels from the Louvre were tied to the scene of the crime thanks to hair strands found in a helmet and high-viz jacket

French police officers walk near the glass Pyramid of the Louvre Museum, after French police arrested suspects in the Louvre heist case, in Paris, France October 27, 2025

‘This action was considered an emergency, despite hopes that the men would lead those watching them to the stolen jewels.’

The second suspect was said to be on his way to Mali, the west African country, when he too was apprehended.

Neither Algeria nor Mali, which are both former French colonies, have extradition treaties with their former Imperial masters.

Laure Beccuau, the Paris prosecutor who is leading the investigation into the Louvre heist, was furious that news of the two arrests had been made public.

She said: ‘I deeply deplore the hasty disclosure of this information by informed individuals, without consideration for the investigation.

‘This revelation can only harm the investigative efforts of the hundred or so investigators involved in the search for both the stolen jewellery and all the perpetrators.’

Despite this, Laurent Nunez, France’s Interior Minister, took to X to write: ‘I extend my warmest congratulations to the investigators who have worked tirelessly as I requested and who have always had my full confidence.

‘The investigations must continue while respecting the confidentiality of the inquiry under the authority of the specialised interregional jurisdiction of Paris prosecutors. It will be with the same determination !! We keep going !!’

It is common practice for suspects to be placed under surveillance following a heist, as police hope suspects will lead them to the stolen goods.

But the French authorities confirmed that there was no sign of the so-called Louvre crown jewels.

The men were taken to the high-security headquarters of the Paris judicial police, where they were being questioned on Sunday.

Four raiders were seen at the Louvre last Sunday, and some were videoed by witnesses.

The jewellery taken included a brooch containing 2348 diamonds, and a tiara with 1083 diamonds – all of it once worn by relatives of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Five security guards ran away, while police responding to an alarm arrived far too late to see the gang disappearing on two motor scooters.