'Intentional' explosion at Harvard medical campus under investigation

Question

This seems to be true according to multiple sources. While the word choice in the headline is slightly misleading, many news outlets report the explosion occurring. Using the word intentional makes the cause feel ambiguous and could be interpreted by readers as the explosion being part of a demolition effort. Both CNN and The Guardian backed up the facts in the article that pointed to two masked individuals setting off fireworks in a Harvard Medical School Building. No people were harmed, and there was no major structural damage done to the building.

All of the sources also stated that there was no clear motive. The pair that caused the explosion were able to enter the building through the roof access. The two men filmed the explosion and showed it to friends, leading to their arrests by the FBI. They will be charged in federal court and are currently awaiting arraignment.

Answer 1

According to the United States Attorney's Office, two Massachusetts men were arrested and charged in connection with the damage to Harvard Medical School's building using commercial fireworks. Surveillance captured two males walking towards the HMS campus wearing face coverings and dark clothing. They were allegedly lighting what looked to be Roman candle fireworks. These individuals were also seen climbing over a chain-link fence into a construction area surrounding the Goldenson Building. Police then received an alert of a fire alarm from the explosion on the fourth floor of the building.

The claim is true, with primary sources from Harvard backing the story up.  

The explosion damaged the hallway, but did not cause any structural damage to the building or labs. There were also no injuries reported in the incident.

https://hms.harvard.edu/about-hms/office-dean/messages/update-goldenson-building-campus-safety

https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2025/11/2/explosion-longwood/

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/two-arrested-connection-explosion-harvard-medical-school-campus

Answer 2

According to the United States Attorney Office, two men were arrested on November 4th, 2025 after breaking into buildings on the Harvard campus and detonating explosives. This is the best source we're going to get for proving this claim right. Plus, the source provided, in the claim, is NBC News, giving us even more of a reason to trust it. Scrolling down google, plenty of trust news outlets such as CNBC, CBS News, and plenty of Harvard magazines further proving it true. One thing could be argued against, which is the fact that the claim says explosion. The two men lit of fireworks, which one could argue that it's a not explosion and someone else could argue it is. All in all, the claim of there being an explosion in the Harvard medical buildings is in fact true, with plenty of trust news outlets backing it up. 

Department of Justice - https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/two-arrested-connection-explosion-harvard-medical-school-campus