The British Museum has closed parts of its premises to visitors following allegations that a former employee disrupted its IT network.
According to the museum, the individual, a contractor, accessed the building unlawfully and tampered with the systems before being apprehended.
As a result, several galleries and temporary exhibitions were unavailable on Friday, and the museum has announced that capacity will remain limited over the weekend.
Priority access is being given to members and those who have pre-booked tickets.
A museum spokesperson explained to the BBC,, “An IT contractor who was dismissed last week trespassed into the museum and shut down several of our systems. Police attended and he was arrested at the scene.”
Efforts are underway to restore full operations, but temporary exhibitions will remain closed throughout the weekend. Ticket holders have been notified and offered refunds.
The museum, which houses renowned artifacts such as the Rosetta Stone, Sutton Hoo treasures, and the debated Parthenon Sculptures, typically welcomes millions of visitors each year.
In 2023, it topped the list of UK attractions, recording 5,820,860 visitors.
Currently, three temporary exhibitions, including Silk Roads and Picasso; Printmaker, are affected by the closure.
Apologizing for the disruption, the museum urged affected customers to contact the box office to reschedule visits or claim refunds.
The Metropolitan Police has been approached for further comment.
