Daijiworld Media Network – Paris

Paris, Oct 19: In a shocking incident, the world-famous Louvre Museum — home to priceless artefacts including Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa — was forced to shut its doors on Saturday following reports of a daring robbery inside its premises.

France’s Culture Minister Rachida Dati confirmed the incident early in the morning, saying, “A robbery took place this morning at the opening of the Louvre Museum. No injuries reported. I am on-site with museum staff and police.” The museum, in a brief statement, cited “exceptional reasons” for the sudden closure but refrained from making an official comment on the theft.

According to reports from AFP, the robbers, who arrived on a scooter, allegedly used small chainsaws and gained access to the targeted section through a goods lift. They fled with valuable jewellery before security personnel could intervene. The exact value of the stolen items is yet to be determined.

While it remains unclear how many culprits were involved, sources in the minister’s office suggested that at least one person managed to enter the museum during opening hours. Police have since cordoned off the area, with barricades seen outside the historic monument as visitors waited for updates.

The Louvre, one of the most visited museums in the world, attracts millions of tourists every year. The incident has sparked serious concerns over security at the heritage site, which houses some of humanity’s most treasured works of art and history. An investigation is underway to trace those behind the audacious heist.