Title: Unauthorized Entry at the British Museum: Employee's Actions Lead to Partial Closure
The central London museum, a popular attraction drawing close to 6 million visitors annually, temporarily halted its temporary exhibitions and a portion of its permanent collection following an incident on Thursday.
"An IT contractor, terminated last week, unlawfully entered the museum and disrupted several systems," the museum revealed in a statement released on Friday. Law enforcement authorities intervened, apprehending the individual on the premises.
The museum is devoting all available resources to return to normal functioning; unfortunately, this means temporarily closing its temporary exhibitions as of Friday and throughout the weekend. Ticket holders have been alerted and refunds have been offered.
Upon receiving reports of a man wreaking havoc in the British Museum, damaging security and IT systems, the Metropolitan Police force dispatched officers the previous evening. A 50-year-old suspect was apprehended on charges of burglary and criminal damage. The suspect has been released on bail as investigations continue.
The 266-year-old establishment has grappled with several setbacks in recent years. Persistent efforts to locate assets totaling over 1,800 items supposedly absconded by a former curator, later fired in July 2023, have striven on. The individual, Peter Higgs, formerly a member of the Greece and Rome department for thirty years, disputes the allegations levied against him.
In mid-2023, Hartwig Fischer, the museum director, announced his resignation, acknowledging the institution's shortcomings for ignoring previous warnings of thefts from its collection, which included golden jewelry, precious gems, and relics dating back to the 15th century B.C., illegally traded on eBay.
The museum harbors a wealth of global artifacts, prompting increasing pressure to repatriate artifacts taken during the British Empire's reign – specifically, the Parthenon Marbles, historical sculptures removed from Athens in the early 19th century by Lord Elgin.
For decades, Greece has sought the sculptures' return. The British Museum is prohibited from returning the objects to Greece by law, although leaders from both sides have engaged in talks centered on a potential compromise, such as a long-term loan.
Enrichment Insights:
- The museum's closure is a result of an IT contractor, who was dismissed and subsequently trespassed into the premises, causing disruptions to several systems, including the ticketing platform.
- Following this incident, temporary exhibitions have been closed, while only a select few visitors can enter paid-for exhibitions, such as the Silk Roads show.
- Security and operational issues have persistently affected the museum. In 2023, allegations emerged of a former employee potentially selling items stolen from the museum's vast collection. Belgian police managed to recover hundreds of the stolen objects.
- As part of the museum's significant redevelopment efforts, the establishment is currently displaying five potential plans for its western wing and has launched a £150,000 bid for a project to review and reimagine the brand and visual/vocal identity.
The museum is currently revising its visual and vocal identity as part of a significant redevelopment project, aiming to enhance its overall style. Due to the disruptions caused by the incident, the temporary exhibitions will remain closed until normal functioning is fully restored, showcasing a more simplified style in their absence.
