Tufts Bomb Threat: Campus All Clear, Returning to Limited Operations

Medford, MA - The Tufts University campus spent a tense day under partial lockdown Monday, after an early-morning arson and subsequent bomb threat sparked a multi-agency investigation.

Bomb-sniffing dogs swept multiple buildings as state and local law enforcement continued to investigate a bomb threat, hours after dousing a car fire on campus and in the midst of the university's finals week.

After a day-long investigation, few details have been released, so as not to compromise the ongoing investigation, a joint statement by the agencies involved said.

Investigating agencies included the state Fire Marshal, Somerville Police, Medford Police, Tufts University Police, and the Massachusetts State Police.

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According to an email to students, the university responded to an early-morning car fire on campus behind 124 Professors Row, where they found a "suspicious note" threatening that bombs were located in several school buildings.

The note found with the burning car referenced a student labor coalition and an ongoing labor dispute involving campus janitorial staff. Tufts spokeswoman Mary Jeka said that without further investigation by law enforcement, there is no way to verify that connection.

"It is not at all clear that that is the reason for this action," Jeka stressed at a mid-morning press conference.

The car torched Monday appeared to be randomly selected, not targeted, she said.

Tufts Labor Coalition, which was referenced in the letter, released a statement emphatically condemning the threats and car fire that preceded them.

Those actions "are completely contrary to the values of Tufts Labor Coalition. TLC had no role in, and condemns, these acts of violence. TLC’s goal is to create fair and safe conditions for Tufts workers. TLC would never act in a way that would bring danger to any member of the Tufts community: workers, students, faculty and staff, or administrators," the statement said.

The targeted buildings and others were evacuated while the university investigated. Students and the public were warned to steer clear.

According to the email, buildings being swept Monday morning were Cabot Hall, Breaker Hall, Cohen Hall, the Tisch Library, the Tisch Sports Complex, and the Health Services building.

The threat shut down campus buildings as Tufts seniors prepare to graduate and most students embark on the last tests of the semester.

Some students are finding the whole thing pretty funny. That is, those who aren't trying to get to finals in the affected buildings.

The university later announced that morning finals would be cancelled, and directed non-essential staff to head home for the day. Students were instructed to remain in their residence halls, if possible, and to move about campus with caution.

Anyone with information about the Tufts incidents are asked to call the State Fire Marshal’s Arson Hotline at 1-800-682-9229. People can call the hotline 24-hours a day.