The director of the British Museum, which houses artefacts from around the world, has resigned after admitting the institution he led “didn’t respond as well as it should have” to warnings in 2021 about certain items that could be stolen, DPA/ PA media and Agerpres reported on Friday.

Director Hartwig Fischer has announced he is stepping down as head of the Museum of London after items from the museum’s collection were found to be “missing, stolen or damaged” last week, prompting an investigation.

The museum’s board accepted the resignation of former chancellor George Osborne, chairman of the board, saying Fisher “acted with integrity” and that “no one ever questioned Hartwig’s integrity, his dedication to his work or his love for the museum.”

“Over the past few days I have read in detail the developments surrounding the thefts from the British Museum and the investigation,” Fischer, the German art historian, was quoted as saying in the statement. “It is clear that the British Museum did not respond as it should have to the warning in 2021 and to the problem that has now fully surfaced,” he added.

“The responsibility for this failure must ultimately lie with the director. I also misjudged the comments I made earlier this week about Dr. Gradel. I want to express my sincere regret and withdraw these remarks,” the retired director added.

Ittai Gradel, a writer, scientist and antiquities dealer, notified the museum about some of the stolen items.

“I have tendered my resignation to the chairman of the board of directors and will be resigning once the board has installed interim leadership,” Fisher continued.

Hartwig Fischer added that “the situation the museum is facing is extremely serious. I sincerely believe that he will overcome this moment and come out stronger, but unfortunately, I have come to the conclusion that my presence turns out to be the last thing I want.

Fisher, who has been director of the British Museum since 2016, announced his intention to step down next year in July.

The number of artefacts stolen from the British Museum in London is “nearly 2,000”, and the artworks missing from the institution’s collection have a total value of “several million pounds”, according to reports recently published in the British press.

The British Museum announced last week that several objects from its collections were “missing, stolen or damaged” and that an unspecified number of staff had been made redundant.

A London museum has filed a lawsuit against one person while British police investigate, but no arrests have yet been made.

The British Museum did not say how many artefacts were stolen, nor did it specify the missing items, saying only that they were “small objects” including “jewellery made of gold and precious stones or semi-precious stones and glass dating from the 15th century. century BC and 19th century BC.”

An independent investigation into security systems has been launched, and the Economic Crimes Unit of the Metropolitan Police is also investigating the disappearance of the art objects.

Three years ago, Ittai Gradel told the museum that certain items from his collection were being offered for sale on eBay, including an ancient Roman artifact valued by art dealers at between £25,000 and £50,000 ($32,000-$64,000). for just £40 ($51).

A source told the Daily Telegraph that directors of the prestigious museum had handled the case “negligently and incompetently” and evidence given to them in the past had been ignored.