Two Additional Suspects Charged in Louvre Jewel Heist; Three Released from Custody

French authorities have formally charged a 37-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman in connection with the October 19 theft of eight pieces of jewelry from the Louvre Museum's Apollo Gallery, valued at approximately $102 million. Both suspects have denied involvement and remain in custody.

This brings the total number of individuals charged in the case to four. Two other men, aged 34 and 39, were charged earlier, with one apprehended at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport while attempting to board a flight to Algeria.

The robbery, executed in under eight minutes, involved thieves using a cherry picker to access the gallery directly from the street. The stolen items, including jewel-encrusted diadems, tiaras, and necklaces once owned by Napoleon's wives and 19th-century queens, remain missing.

In response to the heist, French Culture Minister Rachida Dati acknowledged a "chronic, structural underestimation of the risk of intrusions and theft" at the Louvre over the past two decades. Plans are underway to enhance security measures by the end of the year, including new anti-intrusion systems and road barriers.

The investigation is ongoing, with authorities continuing efforts to recover the stolen jewels and identify any additional accomplices.