A 100-strong specialist police unit is investigating the daring theft of French crown jewels from the Louvre - as officers face "a race against time" to recover the "priceless" objects.

On Sunday, four thieves stole nine items - one of which was dropped and recovered at the scene - in a heist pulled off while the world-famous Paris museum was open to visitors.

The first arrests

On Saturday night, two men were arrested , one as he was preparing to leave the country from Charles de Gaulle Airport.

French media reported the men were originally from Seine-Saint-Denis, a northern suburb of Paris, and were both known to the police.

French public prosecutor Laure Beccuau reacted furiously to the premature leak of information, saying: "I deeply deplore the hasty disclosure of this

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