A Northeastern University staff member is being treated for minor injuries after a package delivered to the Boston campus detonated while they were opening it, according to the school.
A spokesperson for Northeastern said the explosion happened shortly after 7 p.m. at Holmes Hall, home to the university’s creative writing program.
No students were injured in the explosion, according to the university.
Boston police said they responded to 39 Leon St., the listed address for Holmes Hall, shortly before 7:20 p.m. after being notified of the package explosion.
“We first saw two policemen kind of walking quickly into the building,” said Northeastern student Jacob Isaacs. “The police started putting up tape.”
Boston firefighters also responded to the scene and helped police evacuate some of the buildings on campus, according to Boston police Commissioner Michael Cox.
“One of the ladder trucks hoisted a ladder up to the roof of the building and a firefighter, with what I believe was an ax, went up on top of the building,” said student Ryan Dicorpo.
Responding police officers and Boston Emergency Medical Services personnel found the staff member, a 45-year-old man, suffering from minor hand injuries. That man was transported to an area hospital for treatment.
“I take very seriously that this city is home to everyone’s young people, from our littlest learners up to our college students and university staff,” said Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. “So we want to make sure we emphasize that this is of the utmost priority: the safety and well-being of all of our young people here.”
A search revealed a second similar package that was ultimately rendered safe by the Boston Police Department’s bomb squad.
Cox said the Boston Police Department is working with its law enforcement partners at Boston Regional Intelligence, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
“We are going to be working and continue to work with all our campus security partners, as well, to make sure all the students here are safe — as well as the rest of the residents in the city,” the commissioner said.
The FBI’s Boston Division confirmed that it is offering its full support to its partners, especially Boston police, including the full resources of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, evidence response team and special agent bomb technicians.
“We’re fully integrated with our partners and remain committed to resolving the incident safely,” said FBI Boston Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jason Cromartie.
Holmes Hall was evacuated and a notification was sent to the Boston campus at 7:55 p.m. urging people to avoid the area.
“We’re also right across the street from a residence hall, so no one has been able to go in and out,” said student Susanna Maize.
Shortly after 8:30 p.m., the university notified Northeastern students that evening classes at the Behrakis Health Sciences Center, Shillman Hall, Ryder Hall, Kariotis Hall, Dockser Hall and West Village F are canceled due to the ongoing investigation.
5 Investigates reporter Mike Beaudet said he was teaching a journalism class at Northeastern University at the time. He said his class was moved outside but that neither he nor any of his students heard any explosions.
“I didn’t hear any explosions. I don’t think any of the other students did,” Dicorpo said. “But we heard the fire alarm and so we assumed we should leave.”
“It’s pretty late at night. Our class was an exception. Most students are home for the day. There’s not a lot of classes going on,” Maize said.
At about 10 p.m., NewsCenter 5’s Nathalie Pozo received an alert from the university stating that the scene at Holmes Hall was contained and the campus was secured.
Pozo then received an alert at about 11:30 p.m. that stated Northeastern’s Boston campus is expected to be open and fully operational on Wednesday.
“It’s very important to note that our campus is secure and we will maintain a secure campus in perpetuity,” said Northeastern University police Chief Michael Davis. “That’s our work and that’s what we continue to do, and we’ll be working with our partners here to get this resolved.”
In the wake of the incident at Northeastern, Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, both in Cambridge, are urging all members of the campus communities to be cautious and report any suspicious packages.
Boston police told NewsCenter 5 that they received a 911 call shortly before 8:30 p.m. regarding a suspicious package behind the Museum of Fine Arts, which is less than a mile away from Holmes Hall. A Massachusetts State Police official said the package behind the MFA was quickly determined to be trash and not a hazard.
Boston University, meanwhile, notified its students late Tuesday night that deliveries from BU Mail Services have been suspended following the Northeastern package explosion. BU said direct courier deliveries are still allowed, but campus police reminded all members of the school community to be cautious about deliveries.
No arrests have been announced in connection with the package explosion at Northeastern University. Boston police, Northeastern police and FBI Boston continue to investigate the incident.
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