Cambridge Police Investigate Reported Sexual Assault in Harvard Square

Updated May 16, 2025 at 1:08 p.m.

Cambridge police are investigating a reported Thursday night sexual assault in the Harvard Square area, according to an email alert sent Friday morning.

The victim, who was not named, was approached by two unidentified individuals wearing black ski masks and gloves while walking and forced into a nearby alley, according to the alert. The victim was later transported to a hospital for treatment.

A spokesperson for the Cambridge Police Department declined to comment on the exact location of the reported assault, noting that it was “in the vicinity of Harvard Square.”

CPD is actively investigating the reported assault, and has assigned extra patrols to the area “as an additional precaution,” the email alert wrote.

In a statement, a CPD spokesperson confirmed that the victim is not a Harvard affiliate but wrote that the Harvard University Police Department has been notified.

The sexual assault is the first case near Harvard Square that CPD has announced it is investigating since October 2023, when a woman reported an assault on Lesley University’s campus.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

—Staff writer Matan H. Josephy can be reached matan.josephy@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @matanjosephy.

—Staff writer Laurel M. Shugart can be reached at laurel.shugart@thecrimson.com. Follow them on X @laurelmshugart.