Explosion at Harvard Medical School Considered a Prank

An explosion occurred early Saturday morning at Harvard Medical School in Boston, attributed to a prank carried out by two young men, according to officials.

The FBI’s Boston Joint Terrorism Task Force apprehended 18-year-old Logan David Patterson and 20-year-old Dominic Frank Cardoza on Tuesday following the explosion that damaged a hallway on the fourth floor of the Goldenson Building.

“Both Patterson and Cardoza are being charged with conspiring to damage the Goldenson Building using explosives. They were arrested this morning and will appear in federal court later today,” stated the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.

Students were informed they could return to the campus on Sunday after the startling incident, which took place around 2:45 a.m. Saturday. The Goldenson Building houses the neurobiology department’s labs and offices.

“Investigators identified that a large commercial firework detonated inside a wooden locker in a fourth-floor lab. The analysis of the explosive material is still ongoing,” the attorney’s office added.

One officer recalled seeing two suspicious individuals fleeing the building shortly after the blast. Police also released a grainy image of one person wearing a sweatshirt and face covering.

The Boston Fire Department confirmed the explosion was intentional, asserting that no additional dangerous devices were found during their search, and thankfully, no injuries were reported.

“Conspiracy to cause damage by fire or explosives can lead to a maximum of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and potential fines up to $250,000. The final sentences will be determined by a federal district court judge based on the United States Sentencing Guidelines,” the Department of Justice noted.

As police continue their investigation, the incident has raised significant concerns about safety on campus.