British Museum thefts: Man questioned by police

A antheral has been interviewed by the Metropolitan Police pursuing alleged thefts astatine the British Museum.

The London instauration announced past week that it had sacked a subordinate of unit aft treasures were reported "missing, stolen oregon damaged".

A Met Police spokesperson told BBC News: "A antheral has been interviewed by investigating officers.

"No arrests person been made. We person worked intimately with the British Museum and volition proceed to bash so."

The British Museum would not remark connected the antheral being questioned.

The PA quality bureau said the items, which see golden jewellery, gems of semi-precious stones and glass, were taken earlier 2023 and implicit a "significant" play of time.

Emails seen by BBC News look to amusement the depository was alerted by an antiquities trader to items being sold connected eBay successful 2021.

Director Hartwig Fischer said earlier this week the depository had taken concerns 2 years agone astir a tiny fig of items "seriously".

The German creation historian, who the depository announced successful July would measurement down from his relation adjacent year, added: "The probe concluded that those items were each accounted for."

However, helium added: "We present person crushed to judge that the idiosyncratic who raised concerns had galore much items successful his possession, and it's frustrating that that was not revealed to america arsenic it would person aided our investigations."

Mr Fischer said a "full audit" was launched successful 2022, which "revealed a bigger problem", aft which they alerted the constabulary and a disciplinary process was launched. This "resulted successful a subordinate of unit being dismissed," Mr Fischer said.

In response, the creation dealer, Ittai Gradel, said: "The assertion that I withheld accusation from the British Museum is an outright lie.

"I was explicit successful my connection with the British Museum that I was wholly astatine their disposal for immoderate further accusation oregon assistance they would require. They ne'er contacted me."