There has been a robbery at the famous Louvre museum in central Paris, according to the French culture minister.
Update 19.50: At the time of the break-in, the alarms, located on the outside window of the Apollo gallery as well as on the two high-security showcases, "sparked" at the time of the break-in, according to the statement of the Ministry of Culture.
"The five agents of the museum, present in the room and in the adjacent spaces, immediately intervened" to warn the police and ensure the evacuation of the public, also assured the ministry, which praised their "professionalism".
Thanks to their intervention, “the criminals have been put on the run leaving behind their equipment,” according to the statement.
Update 13.30: The French Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, confirms, on TF1, that a jewel has been "found in the flight" of the criminals. Some sources confirm the found jewel is the Crown of Empress Eugénie de Montijo.
Update 13.06: The French Interior Ministry says that at around 09:30 local time (07:30 BST) a number of individuals got into the Apollo Gallery via a window, which they broke.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez says three or four thieves involved used a goods lift on a truck outside the building.
Once inside, the thieves stole jewels that were in display cases and then left on motorbikes. Nunez says the robbery took seven minutes.
A precise list of what was stolen is being drawn up.
Beyond their commercial value, the ministry says the items have an incalculable historical and cultural value.
Update 12.11: According to French media reports, three suspects entered the building through a construction access point on the banks of the Seine. Using a freight elevator, they reached the Galerie d’Apollon, which houses the museum’s royal jewellery collection.
Two men reportedly smashed display cases and stole nine pieces from the Napoleon and Empress Josephine collection, including a necklace, brooch and tiara, before fleeing on a motorcycle. A third man was reportedly acting as a lookout.
Update 12.02: The burglars accessed via the 1st floor window, which they opened by means of a chainsaw. With this same chainsaw, they reportedly opened two showcases emptying them of their contents. The two showcases are named "Napoleon Jewelry" and "Sovereign Jewelry".
Update 11.37: Burglars raided the museum over the weekend taking jewellery once belonging to Napoleon and Josephine Bonaparte, leading to its closure on Sunday.
Police sources meanwhile told Le Parisien that 'the criminals gained access to the building on the Seine River side', where construction work is underway.
'They used a freight elevator that leads directly to the targeted room,' they said.
'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 impressive jewellery collections ever.
Many of the pieces were stolen from royalty during the French Revolution, while others were amassed from around the Empire.
France's culture minister confirmed there had been a robbery at the Louvre in Paris - one of the world's most famous museums.
"No injuries to report," Rachida Dati writes on social media.
"I am on site alongside the museum teams and the police. Investigations under way."
The Louvre Museum has posted on its official X account to say it "will remain closed today for exceptional reasons."
It is not yet clear what, if anything, has been taken from the museum.
Main Image: Gallerie d'Appolon, Louvre