The Louvre has closed for the day after a French minister reported a robbery at the iconic museum in Paris that is home to some of the world’s most iconic historical artefacts, including the Mona Lisa. The museum is yet to comment on the incident, but reports and a lawmaker said that “priceless jewelry” was stolen from its collection.
The world-renowned museum has cited “exceptional reasons” for the sudden closure.
Un braquage a eu lieu ce matin à l’ouverture du @MuseeLouvre. Pas de blessés à déplorer. Je suis sur place aux cotés des équipes du musée et de la police. Constatations en cours.
— Rachida Dati ن (@datirachida) October 19, 2025
France’s Culture Minister Rachida Dati first reported the robbery at the museum this morning. “A robbery took place this morning at the opening of the Louvre Museum. No injuries reported. I’m on the site with museum staff and police,” she said in an online post.
Robbers arrived on a scooter with small chainsaws and used a goods lift to reach the room that they targeted, news agency AFP said, citing police sources. They fled the museum with jewellery, the report said, adding that the value of the stolen items was still being evaluated.
“Priceless jewellery” was stolen from the museum, and the robbery lasted only “seven minutes”, said Interior Minister Laurent Nunez.
According to French daily Le Parisien, the robbers had entered the museum via the under-construction Seine-facing facade. They used a freight elevator to reach the room in Apollo Gallery. They broke the windows to enter the room and reportedly stole “nine pieces from the jewellery collection of Napoleon and the Empress,” the report said.
The world’s most visited museum, the Louvre, SHUTS DOWN after early-morning ROBBERY — police and security on site
French Culture Minister confirms investigation is underway
Even the Mona Lisa couldn’t keep an eye on this one pic.twitter.com/4Dgq8TvsJI
— RT (@RT_com) October 19, 2025
Visuals showed barricades erected outside the Louvre and people waiting for the museum to open. Traffic has also been regulated around its premises.