UPDATES WITH NEW DETAILS; REVISES HEADLINE, LEDE
By Burak Bir
LONDON (AA) - "Priceless" jewelry was stolen from Paris' iconic Louvre museum in a "major robbery," the French interior minister said Sunday.
The Louvre museum closed earlier on Sunday after the robbery took place during the day.
"No injuries to report. I am on site alongside the museum teams and the police,” French Culture Minister Rachida Dati said through the US social media company X, adding that an investigation into the incident is underway.
The museum also announced on X that it will remain closed on Sunday "for exceptional reasons."
Later, French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, who labeled the incident as "major robbery," said that it involved suspects entering the museum via a basket lift using a platform mounted on a truck.
"These are jewels that have genuine heritage value and are, in fact, priceless," Nunez told France Inter radio, as reported by the broadcaster BFMTV.
The minister also added that criminals fled on two motorbikes.