Federal charges filed after Harvard Medical School lab explosion incident

Two Massachusetts college students allegedly deliberate and carried out an explosion utilizing “giant industrial fireworks” at a Harvard Medical Faculty laboratory, federal authorities stated.

Logan David Patterson, 18, of Plymouth, and Dominick Frank Cardoza, 20, of Bourne, have been arrested and federally charged for an alleged conspiracy to break a constructing on the Harvard Medical Faculty (HMS) campus utilizing giant industrial fireworks.

In response to the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace for the District of Massachusetts, each males face one rely of conspiracy to make use of an explosive gadget to break the Ivy League college’s Goldenson Constructing, a facility that homes neuroscience analysis laboratories.

The 2 have been arrested Tuesday morning and appeared in federal court docket in Boston Tuesday afternoon. They’ve a preliminary listening to scheduled for Nov. 24.

Harvard College Police have launched surveillance photographs of the 2 masked suspects fleeing the constructing on the time of the explosion on Saturday, November 1, 2025. (Harvard College Police)

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In response to the federal criticism, Patterson and Cardoza allegedly visited the Wentworth Institute of Expertise campus for Halloween actions and have been seen collectively on October 31 and into the early hours of November 1.

In response to an FBI affidavit, surveillance cameras captured the couple strolling to the HMS campus round 2:33 a.m. sporting face coverings and darkish clothes. Moments later, video reportedly confirmed them lighting what seemed to be “Roman candle-style fireworks” earlier than persevering with towards campus.

About 10 minutes later, they allegedly climbed a chain-link fence right into a development space across the Goldenson constructing, and minutes later climbed scaffolding subsequent to the construction to entry the roof.

At 2:45 a.m., a hearth alarm sounded after an explosion in a analysis laboratory on the fourth flooring of the Neurobiology Division at HMS. Investigators later decided {that a} “giant industrial fireworks” had been detonated in a picket locker.

FBI Particular Agent in Cost Ted Docks speaks at a information convention saying the arrests of two males in a weekend explosion at Harvard Medical Faculty, as U.S. Legal professional Leah Foley watches on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photograph/Michael Casey)

Ted Docks, the particular agent in control of the FBI in Boston, stated the suspects’ actions may have resulted in severe damage.

“This explosive gadget had the potential to trigger important damage to anybody close by, however solely by sheer luck, and due to a fast response by first responders, no lives have been misplaced, nobody was injured and property harm was restricted,” he stated.

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Between 2:45 a.m. and a pair of:50 a.m., Patterson and Cardoza reportedly visited the fifth flooring earlier than exiting the constructing and fleeing in reverse instructions.

In response to prosecutors, Cardoza was captured on video minutes later sitting on a sofa, taking off his pants and throwing them right into a trash can.

Patterson was seen again on the close by Wentworth campus round 3:09 a.m. operating between buildings and charging his cellphone, authorities stated.

At roughly 3:40 a.m., Patterson reportedly encountered Cardoza and a 3rd particular person, and the trio was seen strolling towards the campus of the Massachusetts School of Artwork and Design. Within the video, Patterson had taken off his sweatshirt and sweatpants, whereas Cardoza was nonetheless sporting a darkish hooded jacket and black sneakers.

Witnesses later recognized the 2 males as Patterson and Cardoza and stated they’d visited Wentworth for Halloween occasions.

Officers stated a “giant industrial fireworks” was detonated in a picket locker at Harvard Medical Faculty. (Spencer Jones/GHI/UCG/Common Photographs Group by way of Getty Photographs)

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The FBI affidavit additionally cites the suspects’ public Instagram accounts, which linked the pair previous to the incident.

“Open supply analysis signifies that Patterson and Cardoza every have an Instagram account. The profile picture at present used for each accounts is similar picture of Patterson and Cardoza with three different younger males,” the submitting stated.

The accounts, reviewed by Fox Information Digital, present an equivalent profile picture, in line with the picture cited within the affidavit.

Each social media accounts comprise a small variety of public posts displaying highschool commencement scenes, sports activities and spending time with buddies.

Particular brokers and officers from the FBI Boston Joint Terrorism Job Pressure and Harvard College Police introduced the arrests Tuesday throughout an explosion at Harvard Medical Faculty. (FBI Boston/X)

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Each males have been charged with conspiracy to make use of an explosive to break property owned or utilized by an establishment receiving federal funding.

Fox Information’ Molly Line contributed to this report.