As the ongoing aftermath of Boston’s mail bomber attack reveals, U.S assassination attempts via packages are not new
For several years, packages containing improvised explosive devices have been received in multiple locations in the United States. In 2018, a man was accused of mailing at least 14 explosive devices via the U.S. Postal Service to many Democratic Party politicians and other well-known critics of former U.S. president Donald Trump. Fortunately, none of the devices exploded outside a controlled setting. In 2019, after learning about mail bombings, the U.S. Postal Service intercepted at least 36 mail bombs meant for mayors, senators, and many other officials, sparking the First Red Scare across the United States.
Recently, a Northeastern University staff member was injured when a suspicious package detonated while he was opening it on Tuesday evening, Boston police said.
The staff member, 45-year-old sustained minor injuries and is currently being treated at a local hospital. Investigators have not revealed how the package arrived at the campus. The scene has since been contained, and investigations are underway.
The university sent a message to the students, confirming the site of the incident to be Holmes Hall. According to Northeastern’s website, Holmes Hall is the hub of the school’s “Writing Center activities.” It’s part of a larger complex that houses Northeastern’s communication studies, international affairs departments, gender and sexuality studies, and environmental science.
The university also sent another alert canceling Tuesday evening studies. The letter declared that “the scene is contained and the campus is secured,” mentioning that the police are diligently working to secure the area. The administration expects the campus to be open and fully operational by Wednesday.
“We will update members of the Northeastern community when more information is available,” Shannon Nargi, a spokesperson for Northeastern University, said.
Other schools, including Harvard and MIT, issued warnings to their students via social media. They said they were increasing patrols on their campuses as a precaution.
“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,” Attorney Kevin Hayden, Suffolk County District, said.
Officials also confirmed a report of a suspicious package found at the Museum of Fine Arts. However, the police told Boston.com that this was an “unrelated discarded object,” which was nonexplosive.
During the press conference, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu praised emergency services for their efficient response to the situation.
“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,” WU said in a press conference.