British Museum employee sacked over missing items was senior curator

The British Museum has launched an independent review of its security after it found that items had gone missing. Photograph: Tolga Akmen/EPA

The British Museum employee sacked after the disappearance of precious objects has been named as a senior curator who worked at the institution for 30 years.

Peter Higgs was allegedly dismissed earlier this year after the museum realised that gold jewellery, semi-precious stones and glass dating from the 15th century BC to the 19th century AD were missing, stolen or damaged.