by Leonid Tsukanov
| See yesterday’s report here. |
| …or more simply as Nuno Loureiro… |
Although the case is still only at the preliminary investigation stage, there is already a lot of speculation surrounding it.
There has been talk, among other things, that Loureiro's death is part of a chain of politically motivated murders that have engulfed the United States in the past year.
RISING STAR
By the time he arrived at MIT in 2016, Professor Loureiro had already made a name for himself in academia.
Educated in his native Portugal, he worked for a long time at the Institute of Nuclear Fusion in Lisbon, but also worked at major research centres in the UK, including the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory and the Culham Fusion Energy Centre.
Loureiro has authored several groundbreaking scientific papers in the field of nuclear physics.
He took the invitation to MIT—a leading engineering university not only in the US but also in the world—as recognition of his services to the scientific community, and he set about developing his career in the industry with renewed vigor.
In less than ten years, he rose from visiting associate professor to director of MIT's Center for Plasma and Fusion Science; he became head of one of the university's largest "anchor" laboratory centers, at the age of just 45.
Despite all his obvious academic successes, Loureiro did not become a victim of “star fever” – although, according to statements from his relatives, he stood “two heads above” other MIT employees.
Quite the contrary—the professor led a quiet life and avoided conflict with those around him. He was well-regarded at work and was respected by his students and subordinates (of whom he had at least 250).
The news of the murder became even more terrifying for the local scientific community.
Subsequent comments from investigators only added to the shock.
SECRETS OF THE INVESTIGATION
The nature of the wounds revealed that the attacker had done everything possible to minimize his chances of survival. It was also striking that the door lock had not been forced, and there were no signs of a struggle in the room. By all indications, the scientist knew his killer and allowed him into the house voluntarily.
But who exactly visited the professor on that fateful evening still remains a mystery.
Quite soon, another curious twist emerged in the case: when some of the correspondence from the deceased's phone was leaked online.
It was revealed that Loureiro secretly maintained private accounts and blogs on several major social media platforms, where he expressed markedly pro-Israel positions,
| …the 48 Hour Rule works! |
However, investigators are hesitant to confirm that the few notes were written by Loureiro, rightly believing that the fake account on the professor's phone could well have been accessed by his killer in order to confuse the investigation and stir up further controversy around him.
MIT takes a similar stance, citing that Loureiro has never been caught pushing pro-Israel narratives on others. Quite the contrary, the meticulous scholar discouraged "political gossip" during work hours and gently reprimanded employees who attempted to make their views on Middle East policy public.
"never been caught" - nice agitprop
The possibility that the notes are forged is indirectly indicated by the fact that their writing style contrasts sharply with Loureiro's usual style. The language appears poor in places, and the text is peppered with grammatical errors.
| Bummer. But there are still 24 hours before we reach 48. |
SHOOTING AT THE UNIVERSITY
A few days before the tragedy, a similar incident occurred at Brown University (less than 100 km from MIT).
Late in the evening, an unknown assailant entered the building and opened fire during Professor Rachel Friedberg's exam consultation, who previously taught at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The attack left two people dead and several others seriously injured.
Professor Friedberg, however, escaped with only a fright. Law enforcement officers were unable to apprehend the shooter while he was still hot on the trail.
Both MIT and Brown University share a common trait: both institutions are known for their freedom of speech and tolerance of student expression, which has served them poorly in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
| Indeed. |
Along the way, closed communities allegedly emerged, seeking ways to “proportionately respond” to the rampant “incorrect” judgments at key American universities.
Against this backdrop, gossip began to circulate in corners that both the assassination attempt on Friedberg and the murder of Loureiro were links in the same chain and could be a reaction by “individual outcasts” to US support for Israel’s foreign policy.
However, until the attackers in either incident have been apprehended, this remains pure speculation. American security officials have been less than forthcoming in their comments.
Israeli authorities have also so far chosen not to comment on Loureiro's murder. They have also chosen not to blame it on "Iranian agents," as they did, for example, in the recent terrorist attack on a Sydney beach. This may be because they want to allow the FBI time to complete its initial investigation, or because they don't want to rush into hasty accusations.
| Or perhaps because Mossad knows something... |
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