Two men detained at Louvre after taping paintings to wall in Mona Lisa hall

Two men were detained at the Louvre museum in Paris after taping two small paintings, each measuring 30 by 40 centimetres, to a wall in the hall where crowds gather to view Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. One of the pieces depicted one of the men dressed in armour, while the other showed both men alongside a woman.

Museum security staff spotted the incident, detained the pair and alerted police, who arrested them for causing minor damage to the wall. When questioned, the men reportedly told police they had done it "for fun." According to police sources, the two will be summoned to appear in court once the museum formally files a complaint over the damage.

The Mona Lisa itself, which is now protected behind a thick pane of glass, was not damaged in the incident.

Heightened alert after string of thefts

Museum officials have been especially vigilant recently following a series of thefts at French museums and galleries, incidents that exposed weak security measures and raised concerns that criminal networks may view such institutions as easy targets.

The Louvre itself was hit last October, when eight pieces of jewellery worth millions of dollars were stolen in a daytime heist. Although four suspects have since been arrested, the stolen items remain unrecovered despite an extensive investigation. The theft drew global attention, embarrassed France, and exposed multiple security shortcomings, including an outdated CCTV system — flaws that had already been flagged in a 2019 audit whose recommendations were never implemented.

The Louvre drew around nine million visitors last year, far exceeding its intended capacity and contributing to overcrowding issues. In May, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a major renovation plan for the museum, including a dedicated new space for the Mona Lisa and a new entrance.