Bomb threats, car fire under investigation at Tufts

MEDFORD, Mass. — A suspicious note found outside a car fire at Tufts University prompted officials to evacuate and secure multiple campus buildings Monday.

TIMELINE OF EVENTS

Officers responded to a car fire on Professors Row early Monday morning. Near the fire on the door of campus health services, officers discovered a suspicious note stating there were bombs present in Cabot Hall, Braker Hall, Cohen Auditorium, and Tisch.

According to a top official at the university, the note made reference to a labor dispute involving the school's janitors. The threat remains under investigation.

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"Shock would be an appropriate word. I've worked here for 13 years and never seen something of the magnitude,” Tufts Senior Vice President Mary Jeka said.

The fire was extinguished and officers remained on scene to investigate the bomb threats.

Cabot Hall, Braker Hall, Cohen Hall, Health Services, the Tisch Library and the Tisch Sports Complex were evacuated and secured. All Medford/Somerville staff were asked to return home, with the exception of essential employees who were asked to remain on campus.

Morning finals were postponed and morning activities were canceled. Students and staff were allowed back into the affected buildings by early afternoon. 

BACKGROUND

There has been an ongoing issue on Tufts campus surrounding what's been called the reorganization of sanitation workers. Students have gotten involved in the issue.

The Tufts Labor Coalition weighed in on the threats Monday, saying "TLC has no role in, and condemns, these acts of violence...TLC would never act in a way that would bring danger to any member of the Tufts community."

Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to call the State Fire Marshal's Arson Hotline at 1 (800) 682-9229.

Cox Media Group