分类： society

In a dramatic development in the Louvre jewel heist case, four suspects have been handed preliminary charges and detained, with three believed to be directly involved in the brazen theft of crown jewels valued at $102 million. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau highlighted the apparent ‘closeness’ of the suspects, noting that two had previously been convicted in a similar theft case in 2015. All suspects reside in the northern suburbs of Paris. The stolen jewelry remains unrecovered, and authorities are actively searching for the fourth member of the so-called ‘commando’ team, as well as the mastermind behind the crime. French law prohibits the disclosure of detailed information about ongoing investigations, ensuring the integrity of police work. Among the suspects is a 34-year-old Algerian national arrested at Charles de Gaulle Airport while attempting to flee to Algeria. His DNA matched a scooter used in the getaway. Another suspect, a 39-year-old man, was arrested at his home in Aubervilliers, with his DNA found on the glass cases and items left behind at the crime scene. A 37-year-old man, believed to be the third team member, was arrested ten days after the heist. His DNA was discovered inside a lift truck used in the operation. Additionally, a 38-year-old woman, the partner of the 37-year-old suspect, faces charges of complicity. All suspects have provided minimal statements, with some partially admitting their involvement.

In a shocking revelation, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau disclosed that the recent €88 million jewellery heist at the Louvre Museum was orchestrated by local petty criminals rather than seasoned organised crime syndicates. Speaking to franceinfo radio, Beccuau emphasised that the four individuals arrested—three men and a woman—were residents of Seine-Saint-Denis, a deprived area north of Paris. Among the stolen items were the Marie-Louise necklace, a pair of earrings, and a tiara once worn by Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III. The suspects, who arrived at the museum just after opening hours, used a stolen mechanical lift to access the Galerie d’Apollon via a balcony. Armed with a disc cutter, they swiftly broke into display cases, making off with the jewels in just four minutes. Although one crown was dropped during the escape, the remaining seven items remain missing, with fears they may have been smuggled abroad. In response, the Louvre has heightened security and relocated some of its most valuable pieces to the Bank of France.

Venice, Italy – In a poignant revival of a long-dormant tradition, the city of Venice has once again constructed a temporary floating bridge to connect the mainland to San Michele Island, the historic cemetery where luminaries like American poet Ezra Pound and Russian composer Igor Stravinsky rest. This year, the 407-meter (quarter-mile) bridge, known as the ‘Votif’ Bridge, allowed Venetians to walk across the lagoon to pay their respects to the deceased on All Souls’ Day, a Catholic holiday dedicated to honoring the dead.

The tradition, which dates back centuries, originally involved using Venetian ‘peata’ boats lashed together with walking planks. However, the practice was discontinued in the 1950s as public water buses made the island more accessible. After a seven-decade hiatus, the bridge was reintroduced in 2019 using a modern modular pontoon design. Although the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted plans to make it an annual event, the city successfully revived the tradition this year.

Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro emphasized the significance of the bridge, calling it a ‘concrete journey’ that reconnects history with the living. ‘It’s not fake, not philosophical. By foot, over the water, it’s a beautiful route that makes you understand a lot about Venice,’ he said. The bridge, which arches to allow boat traffic, is the longest of Venice’s temporary bridges, surpassing those built for the Feast of the Redentore and the Feast of the Madonna della Salute.

The bridge opened on Thursday, November 1, in anticipation of All Souls’ Day on November 2. Initially reserved for residents, it will open to tourists on Monday. Antonio Vespignani, a local resident, shared his thoughts: ‘I usually don’t go to the cemetery for various reasons, but I’m taking advantage of this very rare circumstance. It’s a way for me to visit my loved ones.’

San Michele Island, established as a cemetery in 1807 under Napoleon’s decree, remains Venice’s principal burial ground despite the city’s population shift to the mainland. The island’s 15th-century church lends its name to the cemetery, which was expanded by filling in a neighboring canal. For visitors like Zhang Miao, a Chinese tourist, the bridge offered a convenient and free return to the mainland after an unexpected visit to the cemetery.

This revival of the floating bridge tradition not only honors the dead but also underscores Venice’s enduring connection to its history and cultural heritage.

A routine railway journey in eastern England turned into a scene of panic and violence on Saturday evening when multiple passengers were stabbed aboard a train bound for London. The incident, which left nearly a dozen people injured, occurred as the train departed Peterborough, midway through its two-hour journey from Doncaster to King’s Cross station. Witnesses described a chaotic scene, with bloodied passengers rushing down the aisles to escape the violence. One passenger, Olly Foster, initially mistook the commotion for a Halloween prank until he noticed blood on his hand. “Everyone was really pushing behind us, really panicking,” Foster recounted. Emergency services responded swiftly, with British Transport Police receiving the first calls at 7:42 p.m. Within minutes, dozens of officers, including armed units, and paramedics arrived at Huntingdon station, where the train made an unscheduled stop. Two suspects, described as a 32-year-old Black man and a 35-year-old of Caribbean descent, were arrested within eight minutes of the initial emergency calls. Police used a Taser to subdue one suspect who was reportedly wielding a large knife. While ten victims were hospitalized, two remain in life-threatening condition. Authorities have ruled out terrorism as a motive, with the investigation led by British Transport Police. Senior politicians and royalty, including King Charles III and Queen Camilla, expressed their shock and sympathy for the victims and their families. The train remained at Huntingdon station as forensic teams continued their investigation.

In a devastating incident, five German climbers lost their lives after being struck by an avalanche in South Tyrol, northern Italy, as confirmed by rescue officials on Sunday. The tragedy unfolded on Saturday afternoon near the Cima Vertana peak in the Ortles mountains, at an elevation exceeding 3,500 meters (11,500 feet). Three victims—two men and a woman—were recovered lifeless on the same day, while the bodies of a man and his 17-year-old daughter were discovered on Sunday morning. According to Federico Catania, a spokesperson for the Alpine rescue team, the victims were swept to the lower section of the gully where the avalanche occurred. Rescue operations were further complicated by deteriorating weather conditions at higher altitudes. The climbers, divided into three independent groups, were ascending the mountain at an unusually late hour, raising questions about their timing. Two survivors were airlifted to a hospital in Bolzano. South Tyrol, renowned for its mountaineering appeal, particularly among German tourists, has witnessed numerous avalanche-related fatalities over the years. The Ortles region, home to the area’s highest peak at 3,905 meters, is a hotspot for such accidents. Experts attribute the rising number of incidents to increased backcountry exploration following fresh snowfall.