British Museum director steps down amid theft inquiry

British Museum director Hartwig Fischer will be stepping down from his position with immediate effect, it has been announced. He said in a statement: “Over the last few days I have been reviewing in detail the events around the thefts from the British Museum and the investigation into them. It is evident that the British Museum did not respond as comprehensively as it should have in response to the warnings in 2021, and to the problem that has now fully emerged.