Louvre: a year after the heist, an alleged member of the commando tries to obtain his release

Almost a year after the Louvre heist, a member of the alleged commando was scrapped to be released, while appeals attacking the legal proceedings must be examined, AFP learned on Wednesday from sources close to the case. Rachid H., 40 years old and imprisoned since November 28, 2025, requested his release in September. The investigating judges refused. He referred the matter to the investigating chamber on Monday. When asked, his lawyer, Fabien Arakelian, did not wish to speak.

On October 19, 2025, burglars acted in broad daylight, armed with a movers' lift and equipped with grinders. In just a few minutes, the heist stole the Crown Jewels, estimated at 88 million euros. The first two suspects were arrested on October 25. Abdoulaye N., already convicted of aggravated theft and known on social networks as “Doudou Cross Bitume” for his ease with motocross. As well as Ghemlamallah A., an Algerian, convicted mainly for driving without a license.

In police custody, they confessed to their participation. They confirmed it again in June to the investigating judge. During their interrogations, of which AFP was aware, they however assured the judges that the two other alleged members of the commando, Slimane K., indicted in early November 2025, and Rachid H., had nothing to do with this spectacular theft.

“Senior offender”

They also assured that the order giver, whom they described differently, had participated in the heist, and had not yet been arrested. Rachid H.'s defense also noted that his genetic fingerprints had not been found "neither on the bucket truck" used in the heist, "nor in the parking lot" where video surveillance images show suspects handling tiaras. Here, investigators lose track of the jewelry.

The video surveillance used by investigators is the subject of requests for nullity filed by Slimane K. and Rachid H., according to close sources. During his interrogation in May 2026, Slimane K. indicated that he preferred to remain silent, while waiting for this request to be examined. The thirty-year-old, presented by a police source as a “seasoned delinquent” and “long-time accomplice” of Abdoulaye N., denies any involvement.

His lawyer refused to comment on the merits. “We must be wary of analysis by capillarity,” however, warned Yann Le Bras. “Slimane and “Doudou” are not a systematic duo. The press makes repeated errors about common antecedents and others that are not,” he said. Abdoulaye N.'s lawyer, Maxime Cavaillé, did not want to comment, while Ghemlamallah A.'s counsel, Sarah Mauger Poliak, did not respond.