Paris Louvre jewel heist: Five new suspects arrested

Five new suspects have been arrested in connection with the Louvre crown jewels heist in Paris, officials said Thursday.

Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau gave the update to the French radio station RTL.

It comes a day after Beccuau revealed that two former delivery drivers had “partially confessed” to their part in the crime, but that the jewels themselves were still missing.

Paris was rocked by the daylight theft 11 days ago, in which thieves used a furniture elevator to break into the Louvre, the world’s most famous museum, and steal jewels once worn by French royalty worth an estimated $102 million.

French authorities have acknowledged major gaps in the Louvre’s security, with unions blaming staff cuts and funding shortfalls.

The two suspects whose arrest was announced Wednesday include an Algerian national, 34, who was unemployed at the time of his arrest but had previously worked as a delivery driver. The second suspect, 39, is a taxi driver and a former delivery driver.

Both were known to the police for past offenses, Beccuau said.

This is a breaking story. Please check back for updates.