This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd9qjde4wnqo
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| British Museum hit by alleged IT attack by ex-worker | British Museum hit by alleged IT attack by ex-worker |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The British Museum has been partially closed to visitors after a former employee allegedly shut down some of its IT network. | The British Museum has been partially closed to visitors after a former employee allegedly shut down some of its IT network. |
| The museum alleged that the contractor entered the building and accessed the systems before being arrested. | The museum alleged that the contractor entered the building and accessed the systems before being arrested. |
| It led to some galleries being closed on Friday, the museum added, along with temporary exhibitions that remain closed. | It led to some galleries being closed on Friday, the museum added, along with temporary exhibitions that remain closed. |
| The Metropolitan Police confirmed that a man had been arrested at the museum and bailed pending further inquiries. | |
| The museum said capacity was limited for this weekend, with members and those who already hold tickets given priority. | The museum said capacity was limited for this weekend, with members and those who already hold tickets given priority. |
| A British Museum spokesman told the BBC: "An IT contractor who was dismissed last week trespassed into the museum and shut down several of our systems. | A British Museum spokesman told the BBC: "An IT contractor who was dismissed last week trespassed into the museum and shut down several of our systems. |
| "Police attended and he was arrested at the scene. | "Police attended and he was arrested at the scene. |
| "We are working hard to get the museum back to being fully operational but with regret our temporary exhibitions have been closed today and will remain so over the weekend – ticket holders have been alerted and refunds offered." | "We are working hard to get the museum back to being fully operational but with regret our temporary exhibitions have been closed today and will remain so over the weekend – ticket holders have been alerted and refunds offered." |
| Customers who already hold tickets for this weekend have been contacted ahead of their visit. | Customers who already hold tickets for this weekend have been contacted ahead of their visit. |
| A Met Police spokesman said officers were called at 20:25 GMT on Thursday to reports that a man had entered the museum and caused damage to security and IT systems. | |
| "Police swiftly attended and arrested a man in his 50s at the scene on suspicion of burglary and criminal damage," he added. "He has been bailed pending further enquiries." | |
| The British Museum - which holds items including the Rosetta Stone, the Anglo-Saxon ship burial at Sutton Hoo and the contested Parthenon Sculptures - sees millions of people go through its doors each year to see the permanent collections and exhibitions. | The British Museum - which holds items including the Rosetta Stone, the Anglo-Saxon ship burial at Sutton Hoo and the contested Parthenon Sculptures - sees millions of people go through its doors each year to see the permanent collections and exhibitions. |
| Last year it was named the top UK visitor attraction, having had 5,820,860 visitors in 2023. | Last year it was named the top UK visitor attraction, having had 5,820,860 visitors in 2023. |
| There are currently three temporary exhibitions, including Silk Roads and Picasso: Printmaker. | There are currently three temporary exhibitions, including Silk Roads and Picasso: Printmaker. |
| The museum said it apologised for any inconvenience and asked customers to contact its box office to reschedule their visits or have tickets refunded. | The museum said it apologised for any inconvenience and asked customers to contact its box office to reschedule their visits or have tickets refunded. |