Paris Louvre Robbery: Everything We Know

Paris' iconic Louvre Museum was forced to shut down on Sunday, October 19, after a group of chainsaw-wielding robbers made off with millions of dollars of priceless jewelry.

Who Broke Into the Louvre?

A group of four suspects were reportedly wearing masks and hoods when they entered the most-visited museum in the world on Sunday. The individuals arrived on two TMax scooters, according to Le Parisien.

"They gained access to the building on the Seine River side, where construction work was taking place," the outlet reported. "Using a cherry picker, they were able to directly access the targeted room, in the Apollon Gallery, on the first floor."

One Louvre tour guide described the scene in an interview with CNN, saying, "The room is like a corridor, it's very longitudinal. We heard some white noises, like somebody stomping on the window. And I just, like, trying to figure out what is happening."

According to the guide, other tour guides went to assess the sounds but immediately turned around and began running, alerting others to evacuate.

The Minister of the Interior and former Paris police chief, Laurent Nuñez, said Sunday the burglars were "clearly a team that had carried out reconnaissance."

What Was Stolen From the Louvre?

The men reportedly attacked the Napoleon and the French Sovereigns galleries, where the country displays their crown jewels. The group allegedly made off with nine pieces Napoleon and the Empress's jewelry collection, which museum officials are calling "priceless."

According to Le Parisien, "one of the [stolen] jewels was found outside. It is believed to be the priceless crown of Empress Eugenie, which was damaged."

"The risk is that some of the diamonds could be sold at retail, which would make reconstituting the jewels very difficult," a source told the outlet.

The museum remains closed as authorities continue their investigation.