Louvre Heist: Two Suspects Charged, Three Released 0 6

Charges related to the robbery of the Paris museum Louvre have been brought against two more suspects. This was reported by the agency franceinfo, citing a source close to the investigation.

A 37-year-old man is accused of "organized theft." He is alleged to have been part of the group that robbed the Louvre and stole a lift that facilitated the heist. He is also under investigation for "criminal conspiracy."

A 38-year-old woman has been charged with "aiding and abetting organized theft" from the Louvre and "criminal conspiracy." The prosecutor has requested that they be held in custody.

Three other individuals have been released from custody without charges being filed at this stage.

Investigation Continues

On Thursday, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccu announced that five more individuals have been arrested and taken into custody.

"One of them was indeed one of the targets of the investigators, and he was on our radar," she said on RTL television, adding that "DNA traces" were found at the crime scene.

The other four arrested are individuals who may have provided information about the robbery, she added, without disclosing further details.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Laure Beccu stated that two people arrested on Saturday evening on suspicion of involvement in the robbery "partially admitted their involvement."

Debates on Security Measures

The "heist of the century" has sparked heated debates about security measures at the Louvre, the most visited art museum in the world.

On Friday, Culture Minister Rachida Dati released the initial findings of an investigation conducted by the General Inspectorate of Cultural Affairs, giving them a rather critical assessment: "chronic, structural underestimation by the Louvre of the risk of intrusion and theft," "insufficiently equipped security systems," "inadequate" management, and "completely outdated" protocols for responding to thefts and intrusions.

Dati stated that the alarm went off during the theft but acknowledged "shortcomings in the security system": "We cannot continue in the same vein."

In response to the criticism, the Louvre will install anti-robbery and anti-vehicle devices on the surrounding streets within the next two months, the culture minister announced on Friday.

The thieves used a forklift to reach a window in the Apollo Gallery and stole eight priceless jewels in a matter of minutes.

This week, the French Senate examined the shortcomings of the surveillance system and accountability for them, while some members of parliament and unions questioned whether the measures taken by the minister were more symbolic gestures than long-term reforms.

Laurence de Car, the director of the Louvre, has already stated that the museum needs physical barriers to prevent cars from parking near the most vulnerable showcases.

She also called for a police station to be established directly on the museum premises to enhance security at the Louvre, which is visited by more than 8 million people annually.