Two men have been arrested in connection with a weekend explosion inside a Harvard Medical research lab, authorities announced Tuesday. The arrests came after tips from the public helped identify the suspects. Officials described the act as “selfish” and “shortsighted.”
Logan David Patterson, 18, and Dominick Frank Cardoza, 20, both from Massachusetts, face charges of conspiracy to damage by means of fire or an explosive a building belonging to an institution that receives federal financial assistance, according to a criminal complaint. It remains unclear whether the two have retained attorneys.
Leah Foley, the U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts, said it is too early to speculate on the motive behind the incident as the investigation is ongoing. However, a law enforcement official familiar with the case told CNN that Patterson and Cardoza filmed the explosion and later showed the footage to friends. The official added that, so far, the men do not appear to have been motivated by political ideology.
The suspects were apprehended Tuesday morning at their homes, said Ted Docks, special agent in charge at the FBI’s Boston division. Authorities acted after members of the public contacted law enforcement to identify the men, following the release of surveillance camera images.
### Incident Details
The explosion occurred in the early hours of Saturday at the Goldenson building. A Harvard police officer responded just before 3 a.m. ET after a fire alarm was activated and observed two individuals fleeing the scene. Surveillance videos released by police showed two masked people — one in a gray ski mask and the other wearing a long face mask and black hoodie.
According to court documents, the footage shows the suspects lighting what appeared to be Roman candle fireworks around 2:24 a.m. They climbed over a fence into a construction area near the building and, about 10 minutes later, accessed the building’s roof by climbing scaffolding.
At 2:45 a.m., Harvard police received the fire alarm alert. Around the same time, the suspects made a brief stop on the fifth floor before exiting through a first-floor emergency exit leading to a courtyard. The complaint states they fled on foot in opposite directions and attempted to conceal or dispose of clothing they had worn inside the building.
Authorities later discovered what is believed to be a large commercial firework that had detonated inside a wooden locker, according to court documents.
### Official Reactions and Harvard’s Response
Ted Docks called the incident “selfish” and “shortsighted,” adding that it was “equally disturbing” that the two men allegedly boasted about their actions to friends.
In a message sent Sunday afternoon to the Harvard Medical School community, officials assured there was no structural damage to the building. The communique stated, “The small section of the fourth-floor hallway where the explosion took place has been cleared and is fully operational. There was no structural damage to the building, and all labs and equipment remain intact.”
The message also confirmed that the Goldenson building “will be fully open and accessible to all who work in the building.”
This incident comes amid a tense year for Harvard students, faculty, and staff, who have been under national scrutiny amid the White House’s push to reshape higher education. Harvard officials and White House representatives have been engaged in discussions for months regarding a significant deal to restore federal funding to the university and resolve ongoing legal disputes with the administration.
CNN’s John Miller contributed to this report.
https://www.phillytrib.com/news/2-arrested-in-connection-with-explosion-at-harvard-medical-school-fbi-says/article_d6cc4a41-14b2-48ac-90a1-523a698b408d.html
