Mastermind behind Louvre heist ‘thought we could have taken more’, alleged thieves reveal
Inside the Louvre Heist: Suspects Reveal What They Knew Before the Heist
Mastermind behind Louvre heist thought we could - Two individuals facing charges for what may be the most spectacular art theft in recent memory have provided investigators with a fresh perspective on the operation. According to recent interrogation records reviewed by Le Monde, both Abdoulaye N. and Ghelamallah A. discovered the scope of their mission only shortly before executing it. Remarkably, one of the pair remained completely unaware that the target was the Louvre, the world's most celebrated museum.
The suspects' statements, delivered during June hearings, offer the most comprehensive account yet of the October 19, 2025, robbery that emptied the Galerie d'Apollon of eight priceless pieces of French crown jewellery. The newspaper's examination of official records reveals that these two men were recruited by an unidentified mastermind merely days before the heist, with promises of substantial financial rewards ranging from €15,000 to €25,000 for their participation.
Uncovering the Target
Before the operation commenced, the mysterious client presented video footage of the gallery to both suspects, providing them with a visual guide to the space they would soon infiltrate. The instructions were straightforward: smash through the display cases and collect as much jewellery as possible within the limited timeframe available.
Abdoulaye N. recalled the clarity of the mission briefing.
"Break windows and retrieve jewellery from inside the display cases."
Unlike his accomplice, Abdoulaye N. was fully aware of the prestigious location.
"I knew I was going to rob the Louvre,"
he admitted to investigators. Ghelamallah A., however, held a completely different understanding of the target. He believed they were targeting
"a jewellery store where they make jewellery in Paris"
rather than the iconic museum housing centuries of royal treasures.
The Heist in Action
At approximately 09:30 local time, the thieves made their entrance into the Louvre gallery. They utilized a boom lift that had been cleverly disguised as routine maintenance equipment, allowing them to access the gallery without raising immediate suspicion. Once inside, they deployed power tools to cut through the protective display cases containing the crown jewels.
Abdoulaye N. described the atmosphere inside the gallery during the operation.
"When we got in, there was no one there, it was dark, only the lights in the display cases were on,"
he explained.
"In the distance, I could see security moving around, behind a door, or something."
The entire operation lasted just eight minutes. The pair escaped on motorbikes carrying a haul valued at approximately €88 million. The stolen collection included tiaras, necklaces, earrings, and brooches that had once adorned French queens and empresses throughout history. During their hurried getaway, the Crown of Empress Eugénie was accidentally dropped but was subsequently recovered near the museum grounds.
The Organiser's Disappointment
After completing the robbery, the two suspects handed over the remaining jewels to their alleged organiser shortly after the escape. According to Abdoulaye N., the mastermind was far from satisfied with the results.
"He thought we could have taken more,"
he reported.
Neither suspect has revealed the identity of this mysterious figure to investigators. Both cite fear of potential reprisals as their reason for maintaining silence. Ghelamallah A. provided additional insight into the pressure they faced even while in detention.
"They're no choirboys,"
he told investigators.
"I wasn't threatened, but I received calls from outside [while in detention]. They told me to keep quiet."
A Heist That Captured the World
The Louvre robbery has captured international attention not only for its audacity but also for the precision of its execution. The Galerie d'Apollon, one of the museum's most treasured spaces, houses a collection that spans centuries of French royal history. The eight pieces stolen that morning represented not just immense monetary value but irreplaceable cultural heritage.
The suspects' accounts suggest that while the planning was relatively brief, the execution was meticulous. The use of the disguised boom lift, the timing of the operation at 09:30 when the gallery would be relatively empty, and the swift eight-minute escape all point to careful preparation. The fact that one suspect believed they were targeting a jewellery store rather than the Louvre adds an intriguing layer to the narrative, suggesting that the mastermind may have deliberately kept certain details vague until the final moments.
As the investigation continues, the identity of the organiser remains one of the most closely guarded secrets. With both suspects receiving phone calls while in custody, the pressure to remain silent appears to be ongoing. The full story of how this heist was orchestrated, who was behind it, and why the organiser believed more could have been taken will likely emerge in the months and years to come.