The Department of Justice has confirmed that two people have been arrested in connection with the explosion that rocked one floor of a Harvard University medical campus building.
Update 1:24 p.m. ET, Nov. 4: The men have been identified as Logan David Patterson, 18, and Dominick Frank Cardoza, 20, The Associated Press reported.
The pair was arrested Tuesday morning and faces charges of conspiracy to damage by means of fire or an explosive, according to the criminal complaint.
Patterson is from Plymouth, Massachusetts, while Cardoza is from Bourne, Massachusetts.
They were visiting the campus for what investigators said were “Halloween social activities.” They were captured on surveillance video walking to the building, which they allegedly said they chose because it looked abandoned. They got into the building via the roof.
They lit a Roman candle outside of the building and a cherry bomb inside, placing it in a locker where it exploded, charging documents stated.
No motive was provided.
U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said the investigation is ongoing, but there is no threat to the university, the AP reported.
Original report: The United States Attorney for Massachusetts’ office announced the arrests and a news conference on X.com on Tuesday morning.
BREAKING 🚨US Attorney to hold press conference TODAY @ 1pm to announce arrests in connection w/ explosion on Harvard University’s medical campus.
— U.S. Attorney Massachusetts (@DMAnews1) November 4, 2025
Livestream: https://t.co/VtFAYvlrAu pic.twitter.com/5tYHDBUkem
The FBI Boston office confirmed that the agency’s Joint Terrorism Task Force helped the university’s police department track down the two men, whose names were not immediately released, Boston25News reported.
🚨BREAKING: Special agents & officers with FBI Boston's Joint Terrorism Task Force & Harvard University Police Dept. have arrested two Massachusetts men in connection with an explosion at Harvard Medical School. Details to follow at a 1:00 p.m. news conference with @dmanews1 at… pic.twitter.com/nnEIi6GsSD
— FBI Boston (@FBIBoston) November 4, 2025
The explosion happened at about 2:48 a.m. Saturday, but did not leave any structural damage at the Goldenson Building. No one was injured in the blast.
The Goldenson Building has labs and offices for the school’s neurobiology department, The Associated Press reported.
The lab’s equipment was not damaged.
A police officer saw the two masked men leave the building and tried to stop them, but then ran into the building, going to an area where a fire alarm was going off, Boston25News reported.
Officials are trying to determine what exactly exploded since no devices were found.
The Boston Fire Department said the explosion was intentional, the AP reported.
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