Lead

The Louvre Museum in Paris reopened its Galerie d'Apollon (Gallery of Apollo) to visitors on Wednesday, nine months after jewellery worth millions was stolen in a brazen heist. However, as reported by both BBC and France 24, the gallery, which once housed France's crown jewels, reopened without any on display.

Coverage Comparison

BBC and France 24 both reported the reopening, focusing on the absence of the crown jewels. France 24 noted that the gallery will revert to its 17th-century function as a state gallery, and that Culture Minister Catherine Pegard will attend the reopening. BBC highlighted that the stolen items have not been recovered, while both outlets mentioned the arrests.

Key Claims

  • The Apollo Gallery reopened to the public on Wednesday, as reported by BBC.
  • The gallery reopened without any crown jewels on display, according to both BBC and France 24.
  • The heist took place on 19 October, when masked thieves used a truck with mechanical ladders to access the gallery via a balcony, as reported by BBC.
  • Police have arrested four people who prosecutors allege are the thieves, but the stolen items have not been recovered, according to BBC.
  • The museum's president, Christophe Leribault, told Le Parisien that the collections and precious objects had been removed, as reported by France 24.
  • Robbers disguised as construction workers entered the gallery using a truck-mounted lift and stole eight crown jewels, which remain missing, according to France 24.
  • For the jewellery that was not stolen, Leribault said a secure room, a vault with no windows, will be created in another part of the museum, as reported by France 24.

Perspectives

Museum officials: The museum's director, Christophe Leribault, said the gallery will no longer house the Crown Jewels and gemstones, which will be displayed in secure areas elsewhere in the museum. He also mentioned that creating a secure room is a major construction project requiring finding the ideal location and funding.

Prosecutors: Police have arrested four people who prosecutors allege are the thieves, according to BBC. The stolen items have still not been recovered.