Israeli officials have suggested that the fatal shooting of a world-renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor at his US home could have been an assassination carried out by an Iranian operative. The claim, reported by the Jerusalem Post, adds a grave international dimension to the shocking murder in a quiet Boston suburb.
A Leading Light in Nuclear Science Gunned Down
Nuno F.G. Loureiro, a 47-year-old married father of three, was shot at his home on Gibbs Street in the leafy suburb of Brookline at approximately 8:30pm on Monday. The unknown gunman remains at large. Professor Loureiro was a lauded theoretical physicist and a leading global researcher in nuclear fusion and plasma science.
He had recently taken on the role of director at MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center, an institution boasting over 250 full-time researchers. His distinguished career included degrees from Imperial College London and Princeton, and work at the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s Culham Centre for Fusion Energy.
Unverified Claims and Mounting Tensions
The suggestion of Iranian involvement stems from Israeli officials, who noted that Loureiro had previously spoken in support of Israel, a nation Iran considers a mortal enemy. No evidence for this theory has been provided, and US investigative authorities have not corroborated it. The allegation emerges amid heightened global tensions over Iran's nuclear programme, which Israel accuses Tehran of secretly advancing in violation of international agreements.
The Norfolk District Attorney’s Office has stated the investigation into Loureiro’s death is "active and ongoing," with no further details released. The killing occurred just two days after a separate shooting at Brown University in Providence, which left two students dead. The FBI has stated there is no link between the two incidents, though both gunmen remain unidentified, unsettling local communities.
A Community in Mourning and Shock
Loureiro’s neighbour and friend, Louise Cohen, discovered his body after hearing gunshots shatter the evening calm. She was lighting a menorah candle at the time. Rushing to her hallway, she found the professor lying on his back, with his heartbroken wife and another neighbour already present. Emergency services were called, but Loureiro succumbed to his injuries in hospital the following day.
"I can't sleep now," Cohen told the Boston Globe. "This family is so amazing. I can't imagine anyone wanting to kill him... Should we be afraid now?" She described how Loureiro’s family would often help her with her groceries.
The local community held a candlelit vigil in his memory on Tuesday evening, with neighbours remembering a kind-hearted and wonderful man. MIT President Sally Kornbluth acknowledged the "shocking loss" during a "period of disturbing violence," urging students and staff to seek support. The university paid tribute to a brilliant scientist who leaves behind many devoted students, friends, and colleagues.
