English
It took four minutes for four people with power tools including chainsaws to undertake one of the most bold smash and grab robberies in modern history.
The theft of famous crown jewels is a scene reminiscent of a crime thriller - and it has made news around the globe.
(Italian) “Big heist at the Louvre in Paris. The thieves..."
(English) "Gained entrance at about nine thirty this morning.."
(German) “The Louvre in Paris, the most visited museum in the world."
In a crowded room on a weekend at the Louvre in Paris, the museum that's also home to the Mona Lisa, burglars reportedly broke in through a window.
The high-visibility of this crime is evident in phone videos captured by Louvre visitors.
A man wearing a fluorescent yellow vest is seen cutting into the glass case covering the 19th century collection of Napolean and Empress Eugenie.
French Cultural Minister Rachida Dati says it was a very fast operation.
(French translated to English VO*)"We came immediately, a couple of minutes after we received information of this robbery. To be completely honest, this operation lasted almost four minutes - it was very quick. We have to say that these are professionals. Organised crime today targets objects of art, and museums of course have become targets, because France, as you know, is a country of heritage, a country with historical objects of heritage with great value."
Eight pieces were stolen, including the emerald-and-diamond necklace that Napoleon gave his wife Empress Marie Louise, and the 19th century crown of Empress Eugenie yoo-zhen-ee, wife of Napolean the third.
Police found the crown damaged nearby, but the thieves had escaped on motorbikes.
To witnesses, this was like a scene from a Hollywood movie.
"I said, 'I can't believe this happened - right? We were supposed to go tomorrow and is it going to be open?' And she said, 'You read the article, right?'"
"Yeah, we want to get a newspaper clipping as a souvenir."
Sixty investigators are now searching for four suspects.
French President Emmanuel Macron posted to social media, saying everything is being done to find the people behind the theft.
"The theft committed at the Louvre is an attack on a heritage that we cherish because it is our History. We will recover the works, and the perpetrators will be brought to justice. Everything is being done, everywhere, to achieve this, under the leadership of the Paris prosecutor's office."
Prosecutor Laure Beccuau says investigators already have leads.
(French* then translated into English): "Either it was commissioned by a collector, in which case, if we identify this collector and this commissioner, we will find the jewellery in good condition. Or, as we can see on different occasions, it was commissioned by people who only noticed these jewels because of the stones and pearls and objects, the rare metals they were made of."
Others, including Louvre employee and cultural union national secretary, Elise Muller, are less interested in 'who' than 'how'.
(French to English VO)* "So the Louvre staff, including myself, are both extremely sad and extremely angry about what happened today. Extremely sad because, obviously, it's our job to protect this building, this institution, the collections it houses, and the public who visit it. And in fact, today, it wasn't protected as we would have liked."
It is one of a series of raids targeting French museums in recent months.
It comes a short time after the venue was among those that closed in the European summer, with staff concerned over huge visitor numbers and their ability to do their jobs under increasingly crowded conditions.
Visitor Jennifer Keane told Channel 9 the issues were widely known.
"I know that the Louvre had requested additional funding and additional works to improve their security and their facilities. So, I suppose, you know, it does show that things can happen, even in places like this."
Italian
Ci sono voluti quattro minuti a quattro persone armate di utensili elettrici, tra cui motoseghe, per compiere una delle rapine più audaci della storia moderna.
Il furto dei famosi gioielli della corona è una scena che ricorda un thriller poliziesco e ha fatto notizia in tutto il mondo.
(Italian) “Big heist at the Louvre in Paris. The thieves..."
(English) "Gained entrance at about nine thirty this morning.."
(German) “The Louvre in Paris, the most visited museum in the world."
In una sala affollata durante un fine settimana al Louvre di Parigi, il museo che ospita anche la Gioconda, alcuni ladri sarebbero entrati da una finestra.
L'alta visibilità di questo crimine è evidente nei video girati con i cellulari dai visitatori del Louvre.
In questi video si vede un uomo che indossa un giubbotto giallo fluorescente mentre taglia la teca di vetro che copre la collezione ottocentesca dei gioielli di Napoleone e dell'imperatrice Eugenia.
La Ministra della Cultura francese Rachida Dati ha affermato che si è trattato di un'operazione molto rapida.
(French translated to English VO*)"We came immediately, a couple of minutes after we received information of this robbery. To be completely honest, this operation lasted almost four minutes - it was very quick. We have to say that these are professionals. Organised crime today targets objects of art, and museums of course have become targets, because France, as you know, is a country of heritage, a country with historical objects of heritage with great value."
Sono stati rubati otto pezzi, tra cui la collana di smeraldi e diamanti che Napoleone regalò alla moglie, l'imperatrice Maria Luisa, e la corona ottocentesca dell'imperatrice Eugenia, moglie di Napoleone III.
La polizia ha trovato la corona danneggiata nelle vicinanze, ma i ladri erano fuggiti in moto.
Per i testimoni, è stata una scena da film hollywoodiano.
"I said, 'I can't believe this happened - right? We were supposed to go tomorrow and is it going to be open?' And she said, 'You read the article, right?'"
"Yeah, we want to get a newspaper clipping as a souvenir."
Sessanta investigatori stanno ora cercando quattro sospetti.
Il presidente francese Emmanuel Macron ha pubblicato sui social media che si sta facendo tutto il possibile per trovare i responsabili del furto.
"The theft committed at the Louvre is an attack on a heritage that we cherish because it is our History. We will recover the works, and the perpetrators will be brought to justice. Everything is being done, everywhere, to achieve this, under the leadership of the Paris prosecutor's office."
La procuratrice Laure Beccuau ha affermato che gli investigatori hanno già delle piste.
(French* then translated into English): "Either it was commissioned by a collector, in which case, if we identify this collector and this commissioner, we will find the jewellery in good condition. Or, as we can see on different occasions, it was commissioned by people who only noticed these jewels because of the stones and pearls and objects, the rare metals they were made of."
Altri, tra cui Elise Muller, dipendente del Louvre e segretaria nazionale del sindacato culturale, sono più interessati al “come” che al “chi”.
(French to English VO)* "So the Louvre staff, including myself, are both extremely sad and extremely angry about what happened today. Extremely sad because, obviously, it's our job to protect this building, this institution, the collections it houses, and the public who visit it. And in fact, today, it wasn't protected as we would have liked."
Si tratta di una delle numerose rapine che hanno colpito i musei francesi negli ultimi mesi.
L'episodio è avvenuto poco dopo la chiusura temporanea della struttura durante l'estate europea, a causa delle preoccupazioni del personale riguardo all'elevato numero di visitatori e alla difficoltà di svolgere il proprio lavoro in condizioni di affollamento crescente.
La visitatrice Jennifer Keane ha dichiarato a Channel 9 che tali problemi erano ampiamente noti.
"I know that the Louvre had requested additional funding and additional works to improve their security and their facilities. So, I suppose you know it does show that things can happen, even in places like this."
