At about 19:18 hours this evening, September 13 2022, Boston Police Officers from District D-4 as well as Boston EMS and Boston Fire assets responded to the 3rd floor of Homes Hall at 39 Leon Street on the Northeastern University campus for a 911 call reporting a bomb had exploded and a person was injured. Upon arrival, Officers located a 45-year-old Northeastern University Professor who has not been publicly identified suffering from injuries to his hands and face according to EMS sources.
The male was transported by Boston EMTs to a local area hospital for further treatment and evaluation. Immediately, first responders noticed a second package, identical to the first, and quickly cleared and secured the area. The packages, law enforcement sources tell us were hard-shell pelican cases which did not contain the stereotypical explosive materials but instead were highly pressurized with some unknown type of gas and shrapnel. Northeastern Police, Boston Police, Boston Fire and others quickly worked to evacuate the surrounding area and the Northeastern campus went into a lockdown with students advised to shelter in place until further notice.
Assets from the Boston Police Bomb Squad, K-9 Unit, Command Staff and SWAT Team all responded to the scene and began to meticulously sweep the area for additional devices while investigating the possibility of continued threats. The second pelican case was deemed to be an active threat and the bomb squad utilized their robot and water cannon to safely depressurize the case, stopping further injuries as well as preserving what could be critically important evidence.
High level sources close to the investigation tell Live Boston that along with the two cases, investigators did locate a note from the salient. In the note, the suspect writes a long manifesto railing against technological advances including virtual reality, the metaverse, facebook and even going as far to name Mark Zuckerberg himself.
In addition to the rantings about technology, the terrorist states that this was only the start of his terror campaign and that he planned to target other locations including but not limited to Boston University, MIT, and others. Because of this intelligence, investigators and members of the Boston, State and Federal EOD and Bomb Squad Units fanned out across the city over the past hour, conducting protective sweeps at all major campus to assure that no other devices would detonate.
Throughout the evening, Boston Police, State Police and Federal Authorities including the FBI responded to countless calls for suspicious packages across the city including the MFA, Ruggles MBTA and a number of parks. All of these calls proved to be unfounded with no other devices located.
During a press conference, Northeastern University Police Chief Michael Davis, told reporters that within minutes of the explosion, his officers were on scene. He went on to stress, “It’s very important to note, our campus is secure.” Boston Mayor Michelle Wu praised Police, Fire and EMS response to the incident going on to say, “We want to make sure to emphasize that this is of the utmost priority, the safety and well-being of all our young people here.”
When Boston Police Officials were pushed for more transparency by reporters, Boston Police Superintendent Felipe Colon harshly snapped back that the investigation was “fluid” before refusing to comment further and then walking away from the pool of cameras.
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in a statement, “We’re monitoring the situation at Northeastern and we’re ready to work with the university and our law enforcement partners on any prosecutions that may develop. The quick and thorough response by Boston Police and other agencies is the start of a comprehensive investigation to determine exactly what occurred here.”
As it stands tonight, sources tell us that the threat is believed to be relatively contained and that law enforcement from Boston, State and federal and well as Universities will be on high alert as invetigatiors and members of the JTTF, BRIC and other task-forces further investigate what we are being told is currently categorized as a domestic terror attack. The FBI in Boston is offering its full support in the investigation. “We are fully integrated with our partners and remain committed to resolving the incident safely,” said Jason Cromartie, FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge.
The Boston Police Department, along with its Federal and University partners, continue to review the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident. Anyone with information is strongly urged to contact Boston Police. Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox told the public earlier this evening, “We advise any folks out there that might see something to say something, and let us know and dial 911.” Community members wishing to assist this investigation anonymously can do so by calling the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1 (800) 494-TIPS or by texting the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463). The Boston Police Department will stringently guard and protect the identities of all those who wish to help this investigation in an anonymous manner.
