India, Oct. 19 -- Thieves carried out a daring daylight robbery at the iconic Louvre Museum in Paris on Sunday, stealing several Napoleon-era jewels and forcing authorities to temporarily close the world-famous landmark as police launched a major investigation.

According to reports, police cordoned off the museum and a nearby stretch of road along the River Seine following the incident.

French Culture Minister Rachida Dati confirmed the robbery on her X page earlier in the day.

Speaking later to French broadcaster TF1, as quoted by BBC, Dati said one of the stolen jewellery items had been found near the scene of the heist, apparently dropped during the thieves' escape.

"It is being assessed," she added.

Dati described the culprits as...