Device explodes at Harvard Medical School in apparent intentional attack

A device exploded early Saturday morning inside the Goldenson Building on Harvard University’s Longwood medical campus, authorities said, in what is being investigated as an intentional incident.

Harvard University Police Department officials reported the explosion occurred on the fourth floor of the Harvard Medical School building shortly before 3 a.m. An officer on the scene observed two individuals fleeing the building, according to HUPD spokesperson Steven G. Catalano.

The Boston Fire Department’s Arson Unit responded and determined the blast appeared deliberate. Boston Police conducted a sweep of the building and reported no additional devices. No injuries were reported. "Upon arrival at the building, the officer observed two unidentified individuals fleeing the building," the Harvard University Police Department said.

"The officer attempted to stop the individuals before proceeding to the floor where the alarm had been triggered."

The FBI is assisting HUPD in the ongoing investigation, authorities said. The building houses Harvard Medical School, the School of Public Health, and the Harvard School of Dental Medicine.

Catalano declined further comment. Spokespeople for Boston police and the fire department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The police have requested that any witnesses come forward. Officials had not yet released any more information about the explosion or the identity of the suspects as of Saturday afternoon.

Harvard University has been the scene of a bombing before. The Harvard Semitic Museum building, which at the time housed the university's Center for International Affairs, was the site of a bombing on October 14, 1970, on the third floor. No one was hurt because an anonymous warning was sent out just before the explosion.

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The attack was carried out by an anti-Vietnam War activist group of "revolutionary women," known as the "Proud Eagle Tribe," who said they targeted the center because they believed it supported US foreign policy and was associated with Harvard professor Henry Kissinger, who was President Nixon's National Security Advisor. A few offices suffered major structural damage as a result of the blast.

Harvard has received several bomb threats in recent years, all of which were later proven to be false. In December 2013, Eldo Kim, a student, sent threatening emails to skip a final exam. Despite a partial evacuation of the campus, no bombs were discovered. In November 2015, there was yet another significant threat, which led to evacuations and searches that turned up no real bombs.