BOSTON, MA – Federal and local authorities are investigating an intentional explosion that damaged a historic building at Harvard Medical School early Saturday morning, prompting a massive law enforcement response and raising concerns about campus security.
The blast occurred just before 3 a.m. at the Goldenson Building on Longwood Avenue, a structure dating back to 1906 that sits near the HMS Quad Lawn on the Boston campus. Police discovered the explosion on the fourth floor after responding to a fire alarm at the facility.
Two suspects were observed fleeing the building as officers arrived to investigate the alarm. Harvard University Police Department released surveillance photographs showing both individuals with covered faces inside the building moments before the incident. Officers were unable to apprehend the suspects as they escaped the scene.
The Boston Fire Department Arson Unit examined the blast site and determined the explosion “appears to have been intentional,” according to investigators. No injuries were reported in the incident, and authorities confirmed no additional explosive devices were found during a comprehensive sweep of the building.
A resident in the area, Joey Awad, reported hearing two loud bangs and physically feeling the impact of the explosion. “I was frightened,” Awad said, describing the moment the blast shook the neighborhood.
The Harvard University Police Department is leading the investigation with assistance from local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI. The collaborative response reflects the serious nature of the attack on one of the nation’s premier medical research institutions.
Authorities have not released information about possible motives or whether the explosion targeted specific research or facilities within the building. The Goldenson Building houses various research and academic facilities as part of the medical school’s campus.
Investigators are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact the Harvard University Police Department’s detective bureau at 617-495-1796. The case remains under active investigation as authorities work to identify and locate the suspects.
The incident marks a rare security breach at the prestigious institution and has prompted discussions about enhanced security measures across the campus.
