British Museum Evacuated After Suspicious Package Found in Restroom

On Saturday, the British Museum was cleared out after staff found a suspicious device in a restroom, leading to a police intervention. The Metropolitan Police reached the Bloomsbury site at approximately 2:50 p.m. local time. After an investigation, they confirmed the object was not a threat. Visitors were permitted to re-enter shortly after 4 p.m., and regular activities resumed. Prior to the evacuation, the museum had received threatening communications but chose not to provide details due to the ongoing police investigation. This incident occurred just days after the museum postponed a lecture on ancient Israel for Jewish Culture Month, citing security issues related to potential disruptions by registered attendees, which faced criticism from notable figures like historian Simon Schama and Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch. No connection between the two events has been found. Last year, the British Museum attracted over six million visitors, ranking it among the most frequented museums globally, with no injuries reported.