Northeastern University VR lab attack contained note criticizing Mark Zuckerberg
UPDATE: Oct. 5, 2022, 10:35 a.m. EDT On Tuesday, Oct. 4 federal prosecutors alleged that the bomb scare was an elaborate hoax by a Northeastern employee who has since been fired from the university. The Boston Globe reported that 45-year-old Jason Duhaime has been "charged with conveying false information and hoaxes related to an explosive device and making material false statements to an executive branch of the US government." At the time of the incident, Duhaime had worked as the New Technology manager and director of the Immersive Media Lab at Northeastern for about eight years. On Sep. 13, he claimed to have been injured after opening an explosive case in the lab. Police were initially suspicious of inconsistencies in Duhaime's story and have since found that the note he claimed came with the case had been composed on his computer earlier that day.
A pressurized case found at Northeastern University's Experiential Technologies Lab contained a note critiquing Mark Zuckerberg and academia's relationship to the developers of virtual reality.
It is unclear when or how the case arrived at the lab, but according to CNN, it has been confirmed that it did not arrive through the postal service. CNN has also reported that no evidence of explosives was found, but that a 45-year-old Northeastern University employee was injured by the explosive force of the pressurized case and has been treated at a hospital for lacerations to their hand.
The Experiential Technologies Lab researches AR and VR technologies, biometrics, and creative digital tools. The lab's relationship to Meta, however, is unclear.
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The case used was specifically a Pelican case, which is a hard carrying case typically used to transport fragile photography or audio visual equipment like microphones. The Boston Police Department's bomb squad noted that a second similar package was discovered and declared safe during the ensuing search.
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The scene was investigated and cleared by a joint effort from the Boston Police, the Boston Fire Department, and Boston Emergency Medical Services, and the FBI is involved in an ongoing follow-up investigation.
Police were called to the scene around 7:18 p.m. on Tuesday Sep. 14 and had contained the situation by 10 p.m. Evening classes at several buildings on campus were canceled due to the investigation.
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"Classes, research, and all other campus activities have resumed today," the university announced this morning. "The safety and security of our campus community is essential and remains our highest priority. We will continue to provide continuous updates as new information becomes available."
Mashable has reached out to Meta and to Northeastern University for comment.
Topics Virtual Reality Meta
Elizabeth is a digital culture reporter covering the internet's influence on self-expression, fashion, and fandom. Her work explores how technology shapes our identities, communities, and emotions. Before joining Mashable, Elizabeth spent six years in tech. Her reporting can be found in Rolling Stone, The Guardian, TIME, and Teen Vogue. Follow her on Instagram here.
