-
Vonn to provide injury update as Milan-Cortina Olympics near
-
France summons Musk for 'voluntary interview', raids X offices
-
Stocks mostly climb as gold recovers
-
US judge to hear request for 'immediate takedown' of Epstein files
-
Russia resumes large-scale strikes on Ukraine in glacial temperatures
-
Fit-again France captain Dupont partners Jalibert against Ireland
-
French summons Musk for 'voluntary interview' as authorities raid X offices
-
IOC chief Coventry calls for focus on sport, not politics
-
McNeil's partner hits out at 'brutal' football industry after Palace move collapses
-
Proud moment as Prendergast brothers picked to start for Ireland
-
Germany has highest share of older workers in EU
-
Teen swims four hours to save family lost at sea off Australia
-
Ethiopia denies Trump claim mega-dam was financed by US
-
Norway crown princess's son pleads not guilty to rapes as trial opens
-
Russia resumes strikes on freezing Ukrainian capital ahead of talks
-
Malaysian court acquits French man on drug charges
-
Switch 2 sales boost Nintendo profits, but chip shortage looms
-
China to ban hidden car door handles, setting new safety standards
-
Switch 2 sales boost Nintendo results but chip shortage looms
-
From rations to G20's doorstep: Poland savours economic 'miracle'
-
Russia resumes strikes on freezing Ukrainian capital
-
'Way too far': Latino Trump voters shocked by Minneapolis crackdown
-
England and Brook seek redemption at T20 World Cup
-
Coach Gambhir under pressure as India aim for back-to-back T20 triumphs
-
'Helmets off': NFL stars open up as Super Bowl circus begins
-
Japan coach Jones says 'fair' World Cup schedule helps small teams
-
Equities and precious metals rebound after Asia-wide rout
-
Do not write Ireland off as a rugby force, says ex-prop Ross
-
Winter Olympics 2026: AFP guide to Alpine Skiing races
-
Winter Olympics to showcase Italian venues and global tensions
-
Buoyant England eager to end Franco-Irish grip on Six Nations
-
China to ban hidden car door handles in industry shift
-
Sengun leads Rockets past Pacers, Ball leads Hornets fightback
-
Waymo raises $16 bn to fuel global robotaxi expansion
-
Netflix to livestream BTS comeback concert in K-pop mega event
-
Rural India powers global AI models
-
US House to vote Tuesday to end shutdown
-
Equities, metals, oil rebound after Asia-wide rout
-
Bencic, Svitolina make history as mothers inside tennis top 10
-
Italy's spread-out Olympics face transport challenge
-
Son of Norway crown princess stands trial for multiple rapes
-
Side hustle: Part-time refs take charge of Super Bowl
-
Paying for a selfie: Rome starts charging for Trevi Fountain
-
Faced with Trump, Pope Leo opts for indirect diplomacy
-
NFL chief expects Bad Bunny to unite Super Bowl audience
-
Australia's Hazlewood to miss start of T20 World Cup
-
Bill, Hillary Clinton to testify in US House Epstein probe
-
Cuba confirms 'communications' with US, but says no negotiations yet
-
Iran orders talks with US as Trump warns of 'bad things' if no deal reached
-
From 'watch his ass' to White House talks for Trump and Petro
Power tool-wielding robbers flee Louvre with 'priceless' jewels
Robbers wielding power tools broke into the Louvre on Sunday and made off with priceless jewels from the world-renowned museum, taking just seven minutes for the broad-daylight heist, sources and officials said.
Police were hunting the culprits on Sunday afternoon, but a 19th-century crown covered in diamonds and emeralds was found damaged near the building.
The robbers used a furniture hoist and power tools to get into the gallery, which houses France's crown jewels as well as the Mona Lisa, sources and officials said.
The crown of Empress Eugenie, the wife of Napoleon III, was found broken near the museum afterwards, a source following the robbery said, asking to remain anonymous because they were not authorised to speak to the media.
The crown features golden eagles and is covered in 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds, according to the museum's website.
The robbery -- one of several to target French museums in recent months -- forced the Louvre to close for the rest of the day.
Armed soldiers patrolled the esplanade around the famed glass pyramid serving as its main entrance, while police teams were seen going inside. Evacuated visitors, tourists and passersby were kept at a distance behind police tape.
"Please, don't waste your time, just go home and get a refund from the website," one museum worker told a visitor barred from entering.
- Angle grinders -
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said three or four thieves had used the furniture hoist to steal "priceless" goods from two displays in the museum's "Gallerie d'Apollon" ("Apollo's Gallery").
It was not immediately clear what other items were taken.
Pieces usually on display there also include three historical diamonds -- the Regent, the Sancy and the Hortensia -- as well as an emerald and diamond necklace that Napoleon gave his wife Empress Marie Louise, it said.
The thieves arrived between 9:30 and 9:40 am (0730 and 0740 GMT), the source following the case said. The museum opened to the public at 9 am.
A separate police source said the robbers had drawn up on a scooter armed with angle grinders and used the hoist -- an extendible ladder used to move furniture -- to reach the room they were targeting.
The brazen robbery happened just 800 metres from Paris police headquarters.
The Louvre said on X it was closing its doors for the day for "exceptional reasons". It did not immediately mention the robbery.
Contacted by AFP, the Louvre declined further comment.
The Paris prosecutor's office said it had opened an investigation and the value of the hoard was still being estimated.
- Series of heists -
The Louvre used to be the seat of French kings until Louis XIV abandoned it for Versailles in the late 1600s.
It is the world's most visited museum, last year welcoming nine million people to its extensive hallways and galleries.
Louis XIV commissioned the "Gallerie d'Apollon", which later served as a model for the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.
In 1911, the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre. It was recovered months later and today sits behind security glass.
Several French museums have recently been targeted by thieves.
Last month, criminals used an angle grinder to break into Paris's Natural History Museum, making off with gold samples worth 600,000 euros ($700,000).
In November last year, four thieves stole snuffboxes and other precious artifacts from the Cognacq-Jay museum in Paris, breaking into a display case with axes and baseball bats.
He said at the time he hoped that the works could help increase the annual number of visitors to 12 million.
jt-sm-vid-ah/jxb
E.Schubert--BTB