Fischer, who was set to leave his position next year, made the decision to go now amid the scandal surrounding the theft of objects from the museum's collection

Government official says new claim will be made for Benin Bronzes housed in London

The crisis at the museum raises many questions, including who can take the institution forward from here

Shock losses will have ramifications for the institution's ambitious masterplan, with sponsorship hanging in the balance

The UK Museums Association also stresses that insider theft is rare—though others disagree

Meanwhile, Tory MP accuses Greece of "blatant opportunism" over missing items

But Hartwig Fischer stepping down is not linked to the alleged thefts, say fresh sources

The items include a piece of Roman jewellery—reportedly worth between £25,000 and £50,000—being offered with a minimum price of £40

The museum in London is reckoning with a huge security breach after admitting that jewellery and gems dating back millennia had been removed from its storeroom without detection