BOSTON — FBI Director Kash Patel is applauding authorities for tracking down and arresting two Massachusetts men in connection with an explosion at Harvard University’s Boston medical campus, which investigators determined was intentional over the weekend.

“Great work @FBIBoston and partners – another win for our Homeland Security Task Force getting the job done,” Patel stated in a post on X.

The FBI director’s applause came hours after the FBI Boston Joint Terrorism Task Force and Harvard University Police Department arrested Dominic Cardoza, 20, of Plymouth, and Logan Patterson, 18, of Bourne, in connection with the explosion.

Cardoza and Patterson have been charged with conspiracy to damage, by means of fire or an explosive.

No injuries were reported, according to authorities. Authorities remain in the “early stages” of the investigation.

“Anxiety levels naturally rise when the public learns that an explosion was intentionally caused. I would say those levels may rise even higher in the Boston area,” Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said during an afternoon news conference following the arrests Tuesday morning.

“Luckily,” Foley continued, “our local police, campus police, state police, and federal authorities responded immediately and worked collaboratively through the weekend to ensure that this incident was, in fact, isolated and to identify those who are alleged to have caused it.”

Surveillance cameras in the area of the Goldenson building, at 220 Longwood Ave., caught Cardoza and Patterson early Saturday morning wearing face coverings, walking near the medical school, and lighting what appeared to be Roman candle fireworks, Foley said, citing charging documents.

About 10 minutes later, at around 12:45 a.m., the defendants were seen climbing scaffolding to access the roof of the Goldenson building, which houses a research laboratory for the Harvard Medical School Department of Neurobiology.

Harvard police responded to an alert of a fire alarm triggered by an explosion on the building’s fourth floor, minutes later, charging documents state. The explosive, believed to have been a “large commercial firework,” reportedly detonated inside a research laboratory locker, documents state.

The Harvard PD called in the Boston Fire Department’s arson unit, with responders determining that the explosion appeared to be intentional. The Boston Police Department swept the building but did not find any other explosive devices, according to Harvard.

“Apparently, they were aware that they may have been caught on security footage,” Foley said of Cardoza and Patterson, “because they began ditching distinctive items of clothing that they were previously wearing.”

Ted Docks, special agent in charge of FBI Boston, highlighted how authorities recovered video footage showing Cardoza allegedly sitting on a bench in the area after he fled the scene and removed his pants to throw them in a nearby garbage bin.

“What’s equally disturbing,” Docks said, “these two men allegedly boasted about what they did to their friends. We believe these two knew what they were doing was wrong, and they did it anyway.”

Docks added that, though the investigation is ongoing, there is no evidence of an active threat at Harvard Medical School or to the public.

“It took an immense amount of law enforcement resources to determine quickly that there was no continuing threat to the surrounding community,” Foley said. “The conduct alleged in the charging documents was not only irresponsible and risky, it was criminal, and there are consequences for those who commit federal crimes.”

Cardoza and Patterson could face up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

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