Explosion at Harvard Medical School Raises Safety Concerns on Boston Campus

BOSTON, MA - November 4, 2025 An intentionally set explosion rattled the 4th floor of the Goldenson Building on the Longwood campus of Harvard Medical School early Saturday morning, prompting a federal-state law-enforcement response and stoking concerns over security at academic research institutions.

According to surveillance footage and charging documents, two young men - Logan David Patterson (18) and Dominick Frank Cardoza (20) - climbed onto the roof, entered via scaffolding around 2:30 a.m., and detonated a firework inside a locker on the fourth floor lab corridor. No one was injured, and officials say there was no structural damage to the building.

The building reopened after a brief closure, though the investigation remains “very active,” with federal agents stressing the seriousness of deploying an explosive device within a university research facility. “This is not some harmless college prank,” said an FBI official.

Observers say while the incident appears not to have been aimed at causing major harm, the symbolism - an explosion in a high-profile academic lab building - raises broader questions about campus safety, access controls and how higher-education institutions prepare for threats that may straddle vandalism and more serious violations.

*Sources: *https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/04/metro/harvard-medical-school-explosion-arrests/