A delegation of French senators conducted an inspection of the Louvre Museum on Tuesday, concluding that the institution’s security measures fall short of contemporary standards. This assessment follows a high-profile heist on October 19, where thieves stole jewels worth €88 million ($102 million) in under eight minutes. The intruders reportedly used a basket lift to scale the museum’s façade, forced open a window, breached display cases, and escaped undetected. Two suspects were subsequently arrested on Sunday and are currently under police interrogation. Senator Laurent Lafon, who chairs the Senate’s Culture Committee, emphasized the inadequacy of the Louvre’s security systems, stating, ‘We all noticed that the security equipment is not suitable for a 21st-century museum such as the Louvre. It is our flagship, it must be exemplary, and today we cannot describe the security conditions at the Louvre as exemplary.’ Lafon highlighted the need for significant improvements, particularly addressing vulnerabilities in outdoor surveillance cameras, though he refrained from divulging specific details due to confidentiality concerns. The senators have called for the expedited implementation of the ‘Louvre New Renaissance’ plan, a decade-long initiative launched earlier this year aimed at modernizing the museum’s infrastructure, reducing overcrowding, and creating a dedicated gallery for the Mona Lisa by 2031. The project, estimated to cost up to €800 million ($933 million), is currently under discussion as part of France’s 2026 budget deliberations.
French senators say security at the Louvre is ‘not in line’ with modern standards and demand action
