British Museum evacuated after ‘suspicious device’ found days after Jewish event postponed

The British Museum was evacuated on Saturday after staff discovered a suspicious device in a visitor toilet and received what it described as “malicious communications”, just days after the institution faced criticism for postponing a Jewish Culture Month lecture on ancient Israel over security concerns.

Police were called to the museum at around 2.50pm and between 12,000 and 16,000 visitors were evacuated as a precaution.

The Metropolitan Police later confirmed that the package was found to be non-suspicious and that there was no ongoing threat. The museum reopened shortly before 4pm.

In a statement, the museum said: “Earlier today, the British Museum was evacuated as a precaution after a suspicious device was discovered in a visitor toilet. At the same time, the museum received malicious communications, which were treated seriously and reported to the relevant authorities.

“As this remains a police matter, we will not be providing further comment on the nature of the communications received.”

The incident comes less than a week after the museum postponed a lecture on the kingdoms of ancient Israel and Judah, which had been scheduled as part of Jewish Culture Month.

The lecture, due to be delivered by Paul Collins, Keeper of the Department of the Middle East, was postponed after concerns that activists planned to disrupt the event. Museum officials said intelligence suggested a significant proportion of those registered to attend intended to prevent the lecture from proceeding.

The decision sparked widespread criticism, with politicians, historians and public figures accusing the museum of capitulating to threats of disruption.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch condemned the postponement, while broadcaster John Simpson described the decision as “pathetic”. Historian Simon Schama labelled it “cowardice”, and Health Secretary Wes Streeting said attempts to disrupt events connected to Jewish history and culture must be resisted.

Responding to the criticism, the museum’s director, Nicholas Cullinan, defended the decision, arguing that freedom of expression did not require institutions to provide a platform for disruption.

“Speech requires listeners. Debate requires rules,” he said. “If disruption becomes an accepted means of determining which conversations are permitted, then the result is not greater freedom but less of it.”

Jewish Culture Month organisers had previously warned that the event could be targeted. The nationwide programme, launched on 16 May, includes more than 100 events celebrating Jewish history, heritage and culture at institutions including the British Museum, the Tate and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Adam Ma’anit, director of campaigns and public affairs at the Board of Deputies, said last week that the controversy highlighted the security challenges facing Jewish-related events.

“I think organisations like Tate and the British Museum are accustomed to climate protests,” he said. “But there’s an extra element of threat that Jewish events face that they might not be conscious of.”

Police investigations into the malicious communications received by the museum remain ongoing.