Louvre chief says she offered to quit after jewel heist

The director of the Louvre Museum has admitted a “terrible failure” at the Paris monument after a dazzling crown jewel heist came to light and said he offered to resign but was rejected.

Louvre director Laurence des Cars told the French Senate on Wednesday that there was a serious deficiency in the museum’s exterior security cameras and other “weaknesses” exposed by Sunday’s burglary.

The woman, who came under heavy pressure over a theft that tarnished France’s global image, said she submitted her resignation to a Senate committee but the culture minister refused to accept it.

“Today we are experiencing a terrible failure at the Louvre, for which I also take responsibility,” he said.