The director of the British Museum, Hartwig Fischer, has announced his resignation after the theft of more than 1,500 items from the London institution’s collection was reported two years ago, the BBC reported on Friday.
In a statement, Hartwig Fischer says it is clear that the museum “did not react as thoroughly as it should” when it learned of the thefts in 2021. Since he believed at the time that the reports of theft were not very credible, nothing was done.
Last week the museum announced that it had fired one of its employees on suspicion of theft, and earlier this week the Telegraph newspaper reported, citing museum officials, that more than 1,500 precious pieces were missing.
“Over the past few days I have been looking in detail at the events surrounding the thefts at the British Museum and the investigation into them. It is clear that the British Museum has not responded as comprehensively as it should have to the 2021 warnings and the issue. the explanation.
The official, who has served as director of the museum since 2016, also said he had submitted his resignation to the chairman of the board and would step down once a provisional leadership regime was put in place.
George Osborne, chairman of the museum’s board of directors, said he accepted Fischer’s resignation as he “acted honorably in facing the mistakes made”.
“No one has ever doubted Hartwig’s integrity, his dedication to his work or his love for the museum,” he added.
Source: DN
