Museums hold some of the world's most treasured artifacts, offering visitors a glimpse into history, culture, and human achievements.
Keeping these institutions secure requires constant vigilance, as they house invaluable collections that attract millions of visitors each year.
In recent years, museums have faced various challenges, from theft to cyberattacks, forcing them to adapt to modern threats.
The British Museum in London announced the temporary closure of several galleries after a former contractor disabled its IT systems.
The museum, one of the largest and most visited in the world, stated that its temporary exhibitions would remain closed throughout the weekend while efforts continued to restore full operations.
According to museum officials, the individual responsible had previously worked as a subcontractor but was dismissed last week.
The same person later entered the museum and interfered with its computer systems.
London police confirmed they were alerted on Thursday evening about a man who had gained unauthorized access to the building and damaged security and IT infrastructure, according to Digi24.
The suspect, a 50-year-old man, was arrested shortly after but later released on bail pending further investigations.
A notice on the museum’s website informed visitors that the institution remained open but with some restrictions due to the IT system failure.
Public access was limited, and priority was given to those with pre-booked entry times. Some sections of the museum’s permanent collection had also been closed following the incident.
This is not the first controversy to affect the British Museum in recent years. In August 2023, the museum revealed that over 2,000 artifacts had been stolen by a former employee.
Some of the missing objects were later discovered for sale on eBay, and reports suggest that museum officials were aware of the thefts as early as 2021.
The scandal led to the resignation of the museum’s director, Hartwig Fischer, who was later replaced by Nicholas Cullinan.
Founded in 1753, the British Museum remains a major cultural institution and the most popular tourist attraction in the United Kingdom.
