Police have interviewed a man after the suspected theft of a number of artefacts from the British Museum’s collection.
Last week the museum said it had sacked an unnamed member of staff and imposed emergency security measures after items including gold jewellery, semiprecious stones and ancient glassware were found to be missing or damaged.
The Metropolitan police said on Thursday: “A man has been interviewed by investigating officers. No arrests have been made. We have worked closely with the British Museum and will continue to do so. We will not be providing any further information at this time. Inquiries continue.”
The museum is taking legal action against the dismissed staff member.
On Wednesday the museum’s director, Hartwig Fischer, said concerns were first raised about missing items in 2021.
He said: “We now have reason to believe that the individual who raised concerns had many more items in his possession, and it’s frustrating that that was not revealed to us as it would have aided our investigations.”
Fischer said a full audit of the institution’s collection in 2022 “revealed a bigger problem”. He said: “I reported my concerns to the trustees and together we agreed to call in the police. We also then began the disciplinary process that resulted in a member of staff being dismissed.
“I am clear that at every step my priority has been the care of the incredible British Museum collection, and that continues today – with our commitment to learning lessons from the independent review, our determination to help the police with their criminal investigation, and our focus on the recovery programme.”
The incident has sparked global interest and added fuel to the long-running dispute about the future of the Parthenon marbles. A senior Greek archaeologist said the British Museum could no longer claim that the artefacts were safe in its hands.
Despina Koutsoumba, the director of the Association of Greek Archaeologists, said: “They have to return the Parthenon marbles back because they’re not safe.”
Tim Loughton, the chair of the all-party parliamentary group on the British Museum, accused Greece of “blatant opportunism”.
The museum has not specified how many items it believes have been stolen or detailed what the missing items are, saying only that they were “small pieces” including “gold jewellery and gems of semi-precious stones and glass dating from the 15th century BC to the 19th century AD.”
According to the Daily Telegraph, the number of stolen items is thought to be between 1,000 and 2,000, with a value running into millions.
The artefacts have not recently been on public display and were kept in a storeroom mainly used for research and academic work.
An antiquities expert reportedly told the museum three years ago that items from its collection were being offered for sale on eBay, with one Roman object, valued at £25,000 to £50,000 by dealers, offered for just £40.
