The British Museum says it is partly closed after a fired employee shut down IT systems

LONDON — The British Museum, the country’s most popular tourist attraction, was partially closed to the public on Saturday after an employee who had been fired broke in and shut down computer systems, museum management said. “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.” The Metropolitan Police force said officers were called on Thursday evening “to reports that a man had entered the British Museum and caused damage to the museum’s security and IT systems.” It said a man in his 50s was arrested on suspicion of burglary and criminal damage. Museum director Hartwig Fischer resigned in August 2023, acknowledging the institution’s management failed to heed warnings that artifacts including gold jewelry, semi-precious gems and antiquities dating to the 15th century B.C. The museum, filled with treasures from around the world, is also facing growing pressure to return artifacts taken from other countries during the period of the British Empire – notably the Parthenon Marbles, 2,500-year-old sculptures that were removed from Athens in the early 19th century by British diplomat Lord Elgin.