British Museum Partially Closed After Malicious Weekend IT Outage

British Museum hacked

The British Museum was partially knocked offline over the weekend when “a former IT contractor trespassed into the museum and shut down several of the systems. Police attended, and the man was arrested at the scene. 

The Museum was forced to close several galleries and suspend its temporary exhibitions. The incident, which occurred late Thursday evening, disappointed visitors and raised concerns about security protocols at one of the world’s best-known cultural institutions.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed a man in his 50s was taken into custody on suspicion of criminal damage. According to a museum spokesperson, the individual had been fired. He was apprehended at the scene following reports of an unauthorised entry breach and IT and security systems damage. The suspect has since been bailed pending further investigations.

The museum, home to treasures such as the Rosetta Stone and the contested Parthenon Sculptures, announced that its temporary exhibitions, including Silk Roads and Picasso: Printmaker, would remain closed through the weekend. Ticket holders have been offered refunds or the option to reschedule their visits.

A spokesperson for the museum expressed regret over the closures, emphasising their efforts to restore operations: “We are working hard to get the museum back to being fully operational. Members and pre-booked ticket holders are being prioritised for access this weekend.”

The disruption came as the British Museum drew record crowds last year, with over 5.8 million visitors in 2024, making it the UK’s most-visited cultural attraction. However, the incident underscores vulnerabilities in its security framework. Last year, the British Library’s security systems were hacked, causing a complete shutdown for several weeks.

This current outage raises questions about how museums can better safeguard their priceless collections and the systems that support their daily operations. The BM apologised for the inconvenience visitors were caused. This event highlights cultural institutions’ evolving security challenges in the digital age. Visitors are encouraged to contact the museum’s box office for updates or to arrange ticket refunds. Meanwhile, the British Museum’s leadership will undoubtedly be reflecting on how to prevent such disruptions in the future.

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