Louvre robbery LIVE: World famous Paris museum closed after break-in

A gang of "highly organised criminals" have broken into the Louvre using chainsaws and in just seven minutes made off with millions of pounds-worth of jewellery once belonging to Napoleon and Josephine Bonaparte.

The gang raided the Paris art museum in the world over the weekend, leading to its closure on Sunday.
Rachida Dati, France's Culture Minister, said: "I am on site alongside the museum staff and the police."

She said a criminal enquiry had been launched, and that detectives were liaising with museum staff.
According to Ms Dati, nobody was hurt during the raids, while a Louvre spokesman confirmed the museum was shut "for exceptional reasons."

Police sources meanwhile told Le Parisien that "the criminals gained access to the building on the Seine River side, where construction work is underway. The paper reported hooded criminals carrying "small chainsaws" entered the building from the River Seine side, where construction work is taking place.

"They used a freight elevator that leads directly to the targeted room. After breaking windows, two men entered, stealing nine pieces from Napoleon and the Empress's jewelry collection - a necklace, a brooch, and more.'

After being crowned Emperor and Empress of France in 1804, Napoleon and Josephine amassed one of the most sumptuous jewellery collections ever.

Many of the pieces were stolen from Royalty during the French Revoltion, while others were amassed from around the Empire.

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