Powder Found in Science Center Identified as Flour

The powdery substance that was discovered in the Science Center more than a week ago has been confirmed to be flour, Lieutenant David J. Pierce of the Cambridge Fire Department’s Fire Investigation Unit reported yesterday.

The Cambridge Fire Department was called to 1 Oxford St. on Jan. 23 at approximately 3:27 p.m. when a powdery substance was discovered in a container on its premises. The incident was initially reported to the Harvard University Police Department.

Police officials deemed the substance “suspicious,” and the Cambridge Fire Department was called to remove it.

At the time, HUPD spokesperson Steven G. Catalano did not provide details due to the open investigation.

“The substance is in the custody of the CFD to be tested,” Catalano wrote in an e-mail to The Crimson last Tuesday. “Until those tests come back we can’t confirm what the substance was or was not.”

After about a week of testing, Pierce told The Crimson yesterday that the powdery substance was flour and not a hazardous chemical substance.

Pierce did not provide details as to the color of the substance, the amount, or the size of the container.

While this type of testing could have had a longer turnaround time, the department was able to obtain the test results for the substance in fewer than 10 business days.

John B. Mathers, assistant director of the Science Center, said in an interview last week that whenever anyone finds a suspicious package, the individual is encouraged to alert the police department.

Catalano did not return The Crimson’s request for comment on the investigation yesterday afternoon.

—Staff writer Kerry M. Flynn can be reached at kflynn@college.harvard.edu.

—Staff writer Xi Yu can be reached at xyu@college.harvard.edu.