London gem raid suspects in court as third man is charged (Roundup)

Aug 21, 2009, 14:04 GMT

   London - Two men appeared in court Friday and a third was charged in connection with an armed raid on a top London jewellery store in which gems worth a record 40 million pounds (66 million dollars) were stolen.

Craig Calderwood, 26, and Solomun Beyene, 24, are accused of 'conspiring with others' to rob Graff jewellers in New Bond Street on August 6, Scotland Yard said.

A third man, 42-year-old Clinton Mogg, was charged Friday. A fourth man has been released on bail.

Two men, dressed in smart suits, gained entrance to the shop in fashionable Mayfair two weeks ago and forced staff at gunpoint to hand over previous diamond necklaces, earrings and watches.

   They threatened staff with handguns and dragged a female staff member outside as they left the shop and fired at least one shot. No one was injured.

Several get-away cars were used, of which one was reported to have collided with a London taxi during the escape.

   It was the second-biggest robbery in British history after a 53- million pound raid on a Securitas depot in Kent, southern England, in 2006.