Multiple law enforcement sources told Boston sister station WCVB that the report of a Pelican-style case detonating when opened by an employee on the Northeastern University campus on Tuesday is now being investigated as a possible hoax.Investigators identified inconsistencies in the employee’s statement and became skeptical because his injuries did not match wounds typically consistent with an explosion, said one official.As WCVB reported earlier, sources confirm that a note was found inside that case referencing virtual reality and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. The lab where the incident happened is an “Immersive Media Lab” on Northeastern’s campus that focuses on the exploration of virtual worlds including virtual reality and augmented reality.Boston police, the FBI and the ATF are all involved in this investigation. All of the agencies declined official comment, calling this an active investigation.The package delivered to Holmes Hall detonated just after 7 p.m. Tuesday when a staff member opened it, the university had said in a statement. The staff member, a 45-year-old man, was taken to the hospital with minor injuries to his hand, police said. No name was made public.Boston firefighters also responded to the scene and helped police evacuate some of the buildings on campus, according to Boston police Commissioner Michael Cox.A search revealed a second similar package that was ultimately handled by the Boston Police Department’s bomb squad. Northeastern in a message posted on its website Wednesday said the campus is safe.”Events such as the incident that took place on our Boston campus last night can create or heighten anxiety for many of us,” said the post, credited to Provost David Madigan and Chancellor Kenneth Henderson. “We would like to underscore what was communicated to our community last night: Multiple law enforcement agencies have determined that the campus is safe and secure.”The campus opened normally for classes and other activities Wednesday. Counseling and other support services were made available for students, faculty and staff.Despite reassurances from the school, many students remain concerned.”Every time I go to a class or dining hall or anything in general, people are just talking about what’s going on and what went on yesterday,” student Lisbeth Martinez said Wednesday. “A lot of people are still anxious and obviously scared of the situation.”Boston’s bomb squad neutralized a second package near the city’s Museum of Fine Arts, which is near Northeastern’s campus.Holmes Hall is home to the university’s Immersive Media Labs, which according to its website includes technologies for design, development, and exploration of virtual worlds. It is also home to the creative writing program and the women’s, gender and sexuality studies program.Northeastern is a private university in downtown Boston with about 16,000 undergraduate students.The case marks one of the first big scares in Boston since 2013, when two bombs planted near the finish line of the Boston Marathon killed three spectators and wounded more than 260 others.The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Multiple law enforcement sources told Boston sister station WCVB that the report of a Pelican-style case detonating when opened by an employee on the Northeastern University campus on Tuesday is now being investigated as a possible hoax.
Investigators identified inconsistencies in the employee’s statement and became skeptical because his injuries did not match wounds typically consistent with an explosion, said one official.
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As WCVB reported earlier, sources confirm that a note was found inside that case referencing virtual reality and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.
The lab where the incident happened is an “Immersive Media Lab” on Northeastern’s campus that focuses on the exploration of virtual worlds including virtual reality and augmented reality.
Boston police, the FBI and the ATF are all involved in this investigation. All of the agencies declined official comment, calling this an active investigation.
The package delivered to Holmes Hall detonated just after 7 p.m. Tuesday when a staff member opened it, the university had said in a statement. The staff member, a 45-year-old man, was taken to the hospital with minor injuries to his hand, police said. No name was made public.
Boston firefighters also responded to the scene and helped police evacuate some of the buildings on campus, according to Boston police Commissioner Michael Cox.
A search revealed a second similar package that was ultimately handled by the Boston Police Department’s bomb squad.
Northeastern in a message posted on its website Wednesday said the campus is safe.
“Events such as the incident that took place on our Boston campus last night can create or heighten anxiety for many of us,” said the post, credited to Provost David Madigan and Chancellor Kenneth Henderson. “We would like to underscore what was communicated to our community last night: Multiple law enforcement agencies have determined that the campus is safe and secure.”
The campus opened normally for classes and other activities Wednesday. Counseling and other support services were made available for students, faculty and staff.
Despite reassurances from the school, many students remain concerned.
“Every time I go to a class or dining hall or anything in general, people are just talking about what’s going on and what went on yesterday,” student Lisbeth Martinez said Wednesday. “A lot of people are still anxious and obviously scared of the situation.”
Boston’s bomb squad neutralized a second package near the city’s Museum of Fine Arts, which is near Northeastern’s campus.
Holmes Hall is home to the university’s Immersive Media Labs, which according to its website includes technologies for design, development, and exploration of virtual worlds. It is also home to the creative writing program and the women’s, gender and sexuality studies program.
Northeastern is a private university in downtown Boston with about 16,000 undergraduate students.
The case marks one of the first big scares in Boston since 2013, when two bombs planted near the finish line of the Boston Marathon killed three spectators and wounded more than 260 others.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
