Museum operations disrupted by alleged IT sabotage

London – The British Museum, one of the world’s most renowned cultural institutions and the United Kingdom’s leading tourist destination, faced partial closure this weekend following a significant breach of its IT systems. The disruption was allegedly caused by a recently terminated employee, who reportedly trespassed into the museum and sabotaged its computer infrastructure.

The museum, which attracts nearly six million visitors annually, announced on Friday that parts of its permanent collection and temporary exhibitions would remain inaccessible over the weekend due to the incident.

Fired IT contractor arrested at the scene

According to the museum’s official statement, “An IT contractor who was dismissed last week trespassed into the museum and shut down several of our systems.” The museum added that law enforcement responded swiftly to the scene and apprehended the individual.

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The Metropolitan Police confirmed that officers were called on Thursday evening after reports of unauthorized access and damage to security and IT systems. A man in his 50s was arrested for burglary and criminal damage. While he has been released on bail, investigations into the breach are ongoing.

Temporary exhibitions remain closed; refunds offered

Efforts to restore the museum’s operations are underway, though officials expressed regret over the unavoidable disruptions. “We are working hard to get the museum back to being fully operational, but with regret, our temporary exhibitions have been closed today and will remain so over the weekend—ticket holders have been alerted and refunds offered,” the museum stated.

British Museum’s tumultuous years

This incident adds to a string of challenges the 266-year-old institution has faced in recent years. In 2023, the museum made headlines after more than 1,800 artifacts, including gold jewelry and antiquities dating back to the 15th century B.C., were reported stolen by a former curator. Peter Higgs, a longtime member of the Greece and Rome department, was dismissed and is currently being sued by the museum. Higgs, however, denies the allegations.

The fallout from the scandal led to the resignation of museum director Hartwig Fischer in August 2023, who admitted that the institution had failed to address warnings regarding the theft of artifacts that were later sold on eBay.

Growing calls for the return of cultural treasures

Amid its internal struggles, the British Museum is also grappling with intensifying international pressure to return artifacts acquired during the British Empire’s colonial era. The Parthenon Marbles, 2,500-year-old sculptures taken from Athens in the early 19th century by Lord Elgin, remain a contentious topic.

While Greece has long demanded the marbles’ repatriation, British law prevents the museum from permanently returning the artifacts. However, recent discussions have explored potential compromises, such as a long-term loan to Greece. This latest incident underscores the British Museum’s vulnerability in safeguarding its physical and digital assets, raising questions about the institution’s governance during a critical time for its reputation on the global stage.