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Former Northeastern University employee charged with staging on-campus bomb hoax

JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:

Federal law enforcement officials in Boston are charging a former Northeastern University employee with staging a bomb hoax on campus last month. The report of a package explosion generated a massive police response, and it locked down part of the city. Walter Wuthmann of member station WBUR reports.

WALTER WUTHMANN, BYLINE: Jason Duhaime was the director of Northeastern's Immersive Media Lab. He called 911 the night of September 13, saying a package he carried up to the lab exploded. Court documents show Duhaime told FBI investigators the plastic case burst open and sprayed sharp objects that injured his hand. The package also contained a letter railing against Duhaime's Media Lab and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. A federal bomb squad came and secured a second suspicious package. In a press conference today, FBI special agent in charge Joseph Bonavolonta said Duhaime's story quickly unraveled under scrutiny.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

JOSEPH BONAVOLONTA: We believe he repeatedly lied to us about what happened inside the lab, faked his injuries and wrote a rambling letter directed at the lab, threatening more violence.

WUTHMANN: Investigators say they found no burns or shrapnel at the scene, and they found a copy of the letter on Duhaime's computer. Law enforcement officials are not commenting on a possible motive, but Bonavolonta says Duhaime may have been seeking attention.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

BONAVOLONTA: We believe Mr. Duhaime wanted to be the victim but instead victimized his entire community by instilling fear at college campuses in Massachusetts and beyond.

WUTHMANN: U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Rachael Rollins said Duhaime's actions brought back memories of the bombings at the Boston Marathon in 2013 that killed three people and injured hundreds.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

RACHAEL ROLLINS: Our city, more than most, knows all too well that a report or threat of an explosion is a very serious matter and necessitates an immediate and significant law enforcement response given the potential devastation that can ensue.

WUTHMANN: Duhaime stands accused of conveying false information and hoaxes related to an explosive device and making material false and fictitious statements to investigators. Duhaime is no longer employed by Northeastern. He was arrested near his home in Texas. His defense attorney has not returned a request for comment. For NPR News, I'm Walter Wuthmann in Boston.

(SOUNDBITE OF BUN B AND STATIK SELEKTAH SONG, "SUPERSTARR") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.