Authorities believe early-morning blast at Harvard Medical School was set intentionally

An early-morning explosion inside a Harvard Medical School facility in Boston is being investigated as an intentional act, according to campus and city officials. No injuries were reported, but the incident prompted an extensive response by police, firefighters and bomb technicians who spent several hours securing the scene and searching for additional hazards.

Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) said the blast occurred Saturday in the Goldenson Building, an academic structure located on Avenue Louis Pasteur in the Longwood Medical Area. A fire alarm was triggered at approximately 1:00 a.m. A campus police officer who answered the alarm encountered two unidentified individuals running out of the building. When the officer attempted to stop them for questioning, both fled on foot. Their direction of travel after leaving the premises was not disclosed.

Firefighters from the Boston Fire Department (BFD) entered the building after the immediate evacuation and extinguished a small fire believed to have been caused by the detonation. BFD investigators later determined that the explosion was deliberate, though officials have not released details about the type of device used or the possible motive. A subsequent sweep by bomb technicians and canine units found no additional explosives or suspicious packages, authorities said.

The building remained closed for several hours while crews ventilated smoke, examined structural elements and tested the air for potentially hazardous substances. Goldenson houses laboratories and teaching spaces that incorporate sensitive equipment and chemical storage, making the rapid assessment of secondary risks a priority for first responders. The university stated that there was no ongoing danger to students, faculty or staff once the search concluded.

Investigators are reviewing security camera footage from Harvard Medical School and neighboring institutions in the densely populated medical district. HUPD released two grainy images captured near an entrance to the Goldenson Building. The photos show individuals wearing face coverings and hooded sweatshirts shortly before the explosion. Because the images do not reveal distinguishing facial features, authorities are asking anyone who was in the area between midnight and 1:30 a.m. to report sightings or provide cellphone recordings that could assist the inquiry.

Local, state and federal agencies are now collaborating on the case. The Boston Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police have joined HUPD in collecting forensic evidence. Federal partners have been notified, though no federal charges have been announced. The university said it will cooperate fully with law-enforcement efforts and will review campus security protocols. According to Harvard Medical School’s official website, the institution enrolls more than 700 M.D. students and employs thousands of researchers, underscoring the significance of safeguarding its facilities.

Community impact and response

News of the explosion spread quickly through the Longwood Medical Area, a zone that includes several teaching hospitals and research centers. While classes were not in session at the time of the blast, administrators sent emergency notifications to students and staff urging them to avoid the scene until authorities completed their work. Morning laboratory sessions in adjacent buildings were delayed as a precaution.

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University officials have offered counseling services to anyone troubled by the incident and reminded the campus community of existing safety resources, including a 24-hour escort service and an anonymous tip line. The administration did not speculate on potential motives but emphasized that any act endangering public safety on school grounds would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

As of Saturday afternoon, no arrests had been made and the identities of the two individuals seen leaving the building remained unknown. Investigators are analyzing residue from the blast site and reviewing laboratory inventories to determine whether materials stored on-site could have been used in the device. Officials declined to say when the Goldenson Building would reopen, indicating that a structural assessment must be completed first.

Anyone with information related to the explosion is urged to contact the Harvard University Police Department or the Boston Fire Department’s arson tip line.

Crédito da imagem: The Associated Press