British Museum Director Resigns Following Theft of Treasures The director of the British Museum, Hartwig Fischer, has announced his resignation in the wake of a theft of treasures from the institution. Fischer admitted that the museum did not respond adequately when first alerted to the thefts in 2021. In a statement, he expressed regret for his initial remarks about the art dealer who first reported the stolen items. Fischer’s resignation has been accepted by the museum’s board of trustees. Deputy Director Jonathan Williams has also agreed to step back from his duties until an independent review of the thefts is completed. The stolen treasures, which include gold jewelry and gems dating from the 15th century BC to the 19th century AD, were discovered missing, stolen or damaged last week.

The museum has sacked one member of staff in connection with the thefts. It is believed that the items were taken over a significant period of time, with some of them ending up for sale on eBay at significantly lower prices than their estimated value. The thefts were first brought to the attention of the museum by antiques dealer Ittai Gradel in 2021. Gradel had stumbled upon a photo of a Roman cameo fragment for sale online, which he claimed had previously been listed on the museum’s website. However, the museum failed to adequately investigate Gradel’s concerns, leading to accusations of a cover-up.

Mr. Fischer initially accused Gradel of withholding information on missing items, but has since retracted those claims and expressed sincere regret for his comments. Former chancellor George Osborne, who serves as chairman of the museum’s trustees, praised Fischer’s integrity and dedication to the institution. He assured the public that the museum would work to fix what went wrong and restore confidence in the museum’s operations. An independent review will be conducted to learn from the mistakes made in the investigation and ensure the necessary leadership is in place to guide the museum through this troubling period.

The British Museum, known for its vast collection of art and historical artifacts, draws millions of visitors each year and is considered one of London’s top tourist attractions. It is yet to be determined how many items were stolen or the exact nature of the missing treasures. The museum has stated that the stolen items were primarily kept for academic and research purposes and had not been on public display in recent years. The investigation into the thefts is ongoing, and no arrests have been made at this time.