The British Museum has been forced to partially close after a former IT contractor allegedly infiltrated the building and sabotaged its computer systems, leading to the shutdown of several galleries and temporary exhibitions.

The incident occurred Thursday evening when the recently dismissed contractor reportedly entered the world-famous institution and accessed critical systems before being arrested by Metropolitan Police. A man in his 50s was taken into custody on suspicion of burglary and criminal damage, and has since been released on bail pending further investigation.

The attack has disrupted operations at Britain’s most popular visitor attraction, which welcomed over 5.8 million visitors in 2023. Museum officials confirmed that temporary exhibitions, including “Silk Roads” and “Picasso: Printmaker,” will remain closed throughout the weekend, with ticket holders being offered refunds.

“We are working hard to get the museum back to being fully operational,” a spokesperson told the BBC. The institution is currently operating at reduced capacity, giving priority access to members and existing ticket holders.

The incident marks another challenge for the prestigious museum, home to priceless artifacts including the Rosetta Stone and the Sutton Hoo treasures. Visitors planning to attend this weekend have been contacted about the disruption, and the museum has apologized for any inconvenience while their technical teams work to restore full service.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed they responded to reports of damage to security and IT systems at 8:25 PM on Thursday, with officers quickly apprehending the suspect at the scene.