A Greek visitor to the Louvre Museum hasdescribed scenes of panic after a daring theft near the Mona Lisa prompted a sudden evacuation of the world-famous institution.
Danai Henderson was in the crowded gallery housing the Da Vinci masterpiece with her brother, Loukas, when the chaos began on Sunday morning.
“Suddenly, security staff began shouting for everyone to evacuate the building,” Ms. Henderson told the Greek news outlet iefimerida.gr.
She said no reason was given for the order, which immediately sparked panic among the dense crowd.
“We started running initially beneath the famous pyramid at the museum’s entrance,” Ms. Henderson recounted.
The confusion was brief.
After about 10 minutes, Ms. Henderson said security officers reassured visitors that the situation was under control and allowed them to re-enter the galleries.
However, the reprieve lasted only 30 minutes.
A second alarm sounded, forcing another evacuation.
This time, according to Ms. Henderson, the process was calm and orderly, with staff directing all visitors toward the exits.
The Louvre, which houses tens of thousands of works and attracts millions of visitors annually, implements some of the tightest security protocols in the world.
Details of the theft—what was taken and how—have not yet been released by Parisian authorities.
The incident highlights the persistent security challenges facing major cultural institutions as they balance high-volume tourism with the protection of priceless artifacts.
Authorities confirmed they are investigating the theft and reviewing the museum's security procedures.
By Angelos Moschovas