Visitors were evacuated from the British Museum on Saturday after a suspicious device was found in a toilet, following what the museum described as “malicious communications.” The Metropolitan Police were called to the site in central London at around 2:50 pm and conducted a thorough investigation.
The museum was declared safe by police at 4 pm, and visitors were readmitted. A British Museum spokesperson said: “The safety and security of our visitors, colleagues and volunteers is always our highest priority. We would like to thank the police and emergency services for their swift and professional response.”
A Met Police spokesperson confirmed that the package was assessed and found to be non-suspicious, and the incident was stood down. The museum has now reopened and normal operations have resumed. No further details about the communications have been provided as it remains a police matter.
Separately, the museum recently postponed a lecture on ancient Israel as part of Jewish Culture Month after learning that a significant number of registered attendees intended to disrupt the event. The decision was criticised by figures including historian Simon Schama, Kemi Badenoch, and Wes Streeting. The Board of Deputies of British Jews expressed regret over the disruption and said it would work to reschedule.
