‘Intentional’ explosion took place at Harvard Medical School, officials say

BOSTON – An explosion took place in a building of the Harvard Medical School in Boston early on Nov 1, the school’s police department said, in what the authorities described as an intentional act.

Two people were seen fleeing the building when a police officer from the Harvard University Police Department arrived at the scene, according to the police statement. The explosion was under investigation by local and federal authorities. The school police said no injuries were reported.

The university released still images from video surveillance of the two individuals on the afternoon of Nov 1, asking for the public’s assistance in identifying them. One wore khaki pants, grey Crocs, and a brown hooded sweatshirt that appeared to say NYC on it; the other wore dark plaid pajama pants and a dark hooded sweatshirt. Both individuals had light-coloured ski masks on.

The episode unfolded at 2.48am local time in the Goldenson building of the medical school, where an officer from the Harvard police department was dispatched after a fire alarm was activated, Mr Steven G. Catalano, a spokesman for the university police, said in a statement.

An officer who arrived at the scene saw the individuals running from the building, Mr Catalano said. The officer attempted to stop them before going into the building and to the fourth floor, where the alarm was triggered, he said.

The arson unit of the Boston Fire Department determined that the explosion was “intentional,” he said. The Boston Police Department swept the building but did not find additional devices.

The Boston Fire Department did not immediately return a request for comment.

Mr Catalano did not mention the extent of the damage to the building, which was built in 1906 and appears to hold portions of the neurobiology department, according to the school’s website.

An e-mail obtained by The New York Times that was sent to the department by a school administrator asked faculty to avoid coming to campus unless necessary, while also specifying that only part of the building was closed.

“While we aren’t able to share more details at this time, I want you to know that the building has been cleared and remains open, except for the fourth floor where the incident took place,” the letter said.

The FBI was assisting at the scene and the investigation was “very active,” said Ms Kristen M. Setera, a spokeswoman for the FBI Boston field office.

Harvard has been in the spotlight recently as the university has been grappling with demands from the Trump administration. The administration cut funding after the university did not agree to adopt more conservative values on gender, grant access to admissions data or make changes to the school’s code of conduct. NYTIMES