Overview

• The incident unfolded July 22 at St. Paul’s Church in Harvard Square during a free performance by Chœur d’Enfants d’Île-de-France.
• Eight choir members, ages 11 to 13, reported smelling an unusual odor before experiencing breathing distress and seizure-like movements.
• Cambridge Fire Department crews arrived about 90 minutes after the first 911 call and transported the affected children to local hospitals.
• About 70 other attendees were unharmed and all eight children were treated and released by the following day.
• A full hazmat sweep and ventilation of the church produced negative readings, and investigators remain unable to pinpoint the cause.