Former Contractor Arrested After Disabling British Museum IT Systems

A former IT contractor at the British Museum has been arrested for allegedly trespassing and shutting down the museum's security and IT systems. The incident led to the closure of part of the museum's permanent collection and temporary exhibitions over the weekend. The museum's spokesperson confirmed that the contractor, dismissed the previous week, was arrested at the scene by police. This incident follows previous controversies involving the museum, including the revelation in August 2023 that around 1,500 items from its collection were missing or stolen. Hundreds of these items have since been returned, and the museum has faced significant scrutiny over its security measures. The museum is currently working to restore full operations while offering refunds to affected ticket holders.