Two Germans arrested after paintings taped to Louvre wall near Mona Lisa
Police said the men attached two small paintings to a wall in the Mona Lisa hall and told investigators they acted “for fun”.
Two German men have been arrested after using sticky tape to attach two paintings to a wall in the Louvre’s Mona Lisa hall, according to police sources cited by France 24.
The paintings measured 30 by 40 centimetres. One depicted one of the men wearing armour, while the other showed both men with a woman. Security officers detained them and called police.
Police arrested the men over alleged minor damage to the wall. They told investigators they had carried out the stunt “for fun”. The Mona Lisa, displayed behind protective glass, was not damaged.
The men may be summoned to court if the Louvre files a formal complaint. The museum’s formal response and the precise extent of the alleged wall damage have not been provided.
The incident comes as the Louvre faces heightened scrutiny over security. Eight jewellery items were stolen from the museum in a daylight heist last October, and four suspects have reportedly been arrested while the items remain missing.
The museum has also faced concerns over overcrowding, an outdated CCTV system and recommendations from a 2019 audit that were not acted on. President Emmanuel Macron announced a planned overhaul in May, including a new space for the Mona Lisa and a new entrance.
