2 Men Charged After Allegedly Igniting 'Commercial Firework' in Harvard Medical School, Causing Explosion: Authorities By Angel Saunders

Two men have been arrested after authorities said they took intentional steps to cause an explosion at Harvard Medical School.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Massachusetts identified Logan D. Patterson of Bourne, 18, and Dominick F. Cardoza, 20, of Plymouth as the suspects in a press release on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

They allegedly detonated a “large commercial firework” to ignite the explosion at the Goldenson Building around 2:25 a.m. local time, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Footage shared by the Harvard Police Department shows two individuals in the building wearing face coverings.

In additional footage, Patterson and Cardoza “were allegedly seen climbing over a chain-link fence into a construction area surrounding” the building before they made their way to the roof by climbing scaffolding alongside the building, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Each suspect is charged with one count of conspiracy to damage by means of fire or an explosive.

In a post to X on Tuesday morning, FBI Boston also announced the arrests with FBI Boston’s Joint Terrorism Task Force & Harvard University Police Dept.

Ted E. Docks, special agent in charge at the FBI’s Boston Division, condemned the explosion in a statement shared on social media.

“Igniting an explosive device inside a school locker is not some harmless, college prank. It’s selfish, short-sighted, and a federal crime,” he began.

“Today’s arrests by FBI Boston’s Joint Terrorism Task Force should be a warning to others that if you allegedly use an explosive to maliciously damage someone else’s property you should not be surprised when the FBI and our partners roll up to your door and take you into custody,” Docks continued.

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PEOPLE could not immediately reach the FBI’s field office in Boston for comment. 

“I couldn’t believe how loud it was,” one individual who was present told ABC News.

Another person told the news outlet, “That would be terrible if somebody got hurt. I can’t even imagine.”

Campus security reportedly attempted to catch the two men before they fled the scene.

The suspects were tracked down after they were heard bragging about their alleged actions.

“These two men allegedly boasted about what they did to their friends,” Docks said, ABC News reported.

Patterson and Cardoza were also in the area for Halloween parties on the evening of Friday, Oct. 31, according to the university’s campus newspaper, The Harvard Crimson.

The Boston Fire Department’s Arson Unit ruled the explosion intentional, however, explosives were not recovered at the scene.

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The suspects appeared in federal court in Boston on Tuesday afternoon and have a preliminary hearing scheduled for Nov. 24, Fox News reported.

Both are facing up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.