HIBAPRESS: Louvre Museum Director Laurence des Cars acknowledged on Wednesday the existence of a weakness in the museum's external surveillance system, just three days after a shocking robbery carried out by four thieves in broad daylight in the heart of Paris, during which they managed to seize jewels estimated to be worth 88 million euros (about 102 million dollars).
During a hearing before the French Senate, des Cars faced tough questions about how such a brazen operation could occur in one of the most heavily guarded museums in the world, especially as it took only seven minutes. The incident brought back an old debate about the effectiveness of security measures within French cultural institutions. A gap in the cameras and a controversial security plan. In her first public statement since the incident, des Cars said: "This theft damages our institution in its most important missions. Despite our diligent efforts, we have failed." She explained that the alarm systems were fully operational during the incident, but admitted to a gap in the coverage of the surveillance cameras, explaining that "the only camera installed was directed west, and did not cover the balcony where the robbery took place." The director defended the museum's 80 million euro security plan, denying reports of "ongoing delays" in its implementation, and called for the establishment of a permanent police station inside the museum to enhance security and prevent the recurrence of such incidents. Macron intervenes and the investigation accelerates. Simultaneously, French President Emmanuel Macron ordered the acceleration of security measures within the Louvre Museum, which reopened its doors to visitors on Wednesday after a temporary closure, while the Apollo Hall, which witnessed the robbery, remained closed to the public. Des Cars confirmed the accuracy of reports that indicated she had offered her resignation immediately after the incident, but the Ministry of Culture rejected it. For his part, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced that the investigation "is progressing quickly," pointing out that more than 100 investigators are participating in tracking down the perpetrators, stressing: "I have full confidence that we will find the perpetrators of the crime." In the same context, the Paris prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, described the financial loss as "exceptional," but stressed that the real damage "affects the entire French heritage." The Louvre Museum is one of the most popular museums in the world, as it received about nine million visitors last year to its rich art collection, which includes the famous Mona Lisa painting, before this robbery shook its image as a global symbol of art and cultural safety.
