Louvre burglary was a security 'wake-up call', says auditor

The theft of an estimated €88m (£77m) of crown jewels from the Louvre last month was "a deafening wake-up call" for the "wholly inadequate pace" of security upgrades at the Paris museum, the head of France's state auditor has said.

- Jon Henley Europe correspondent

In the report, which was completed before the dramatic heist, Pierre Moscovici said the Louvre had sufficient funds for the improvements and "must now implement them without fail". The court of auditors' report said investments in maintenance and security were "indispensable for the long-term functioning of the institution", but that the Louvre had consistently prioritised "visible and attractive" projects instead.

Four suspects are in custody over the robbery on 19 October, including three who are thought to have been members of the four-man gang who used a stolen truck with an extendable ladder and freight lift to reach a first-floor window.