A contractor was arrested for allegedly shutting down the British Museum’s IT systems. The museum is working to restore operations while some exhibitions remain closed.

London: A former contractor at the British Museum got arrested for allegedly shutting down its IT systems. This incident caused part of the museum’s collection to close on Friday.
Temporary exhibitions will stay closed over the weekend. The museum said the contractor had been dismissed recently and trespassed into the venue.
According to a spokesman, the police were called, and the contractor was arrested on-site. They’re working hard to get everything back to normal.
Unfortunately, ticket holders for the temporary exhibitions have been notified and offered refunds. This incident follows a troubling time for the museum.
In August 2023, they revealed that about 1,500 objects were missing or stolen. Last year, legal action was taken against a former curator after a long career.
Since then, many treasures have been returned, including ancient gems. The museum even had a temporary exhibition showcasing these recovered artefacts.
After all the chaos, the museum’s director resigned. Nicholas Cullinan, who previously led the National Portrait Gallery, has taken over the role.
The Metropolitan Police have been contacted for further comments on the situation.