« Update: Hearing for escaped art dealer is continued | Today | McWalters: Let me help select Providence school chief »

March 19, 2008

Three teens charged with Molotov cocktail incident

PROVIDENCE -- Three teenage boys were charged today in connection with throwing a Molotov cocktail explosive device on to a Glenham Street synagogue's lawn early this morning, according to the police.

The case is apparently not connected to last weekend's incident involving a Molotov cocktail thrown at the apartment of an Israeli student at 122 Camp St. on the city's East Side.

A 17-year-old and a 15-year-old, both of Providence, and a 17-year-old of Central Falls appeared in Family Court this afternoon in connection with today's incident and are being held at the state Training School until Monday, according to the police.

A Providence police officer on routine patrol on Broad Street saw three males running from Glenham Street and noticed a small fire on the synagogue's lawn. The officer used an extinguisher to put out the fire. The lawn was charred but the building was not damaged, the police said.

The police said they learned through interviews that the teenagers were in South Providence and broke into a house under renovation at 88 Bogman St. The teens spray-painted walls and spread a floor sealer on floors and walls, the police said. A fourth youth stayed outside and was seen by a police officer, who came to investigate. The three boys inside fled out a front window, taking a can of 3M adhesive cleaner, which is flammable liquid, the police said.

The boys found a glass bottle on Glenham Street and filled it with liquid and a liquid-soaked newspaper wick. The police said the boys intended to throw the bottle into a vacant lot across Glenham Street. The wick had been lighted, but the boys saw a police officer and tossed the bottle behind them onto the synagogue lawn.Then they ran.

The police said the boys are each charged with: fifth-degree arson; conspiracy to commit fifth-degree arson; possession or carrying of explosives or noxious substances; breaking and entering without the consent of the owner; and malicious injury to the property of another.

A news release says the investigation of today's incident is being done with support from the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms and Tobacco, the U.S. Attorney's office, the state Attorney General's office, and others.

The Camp Street Molotov incident occurred early Saturday morning at the apartment of Joseph Knafo, 25, an Israeli citizen who shared the space with two roommates. The device did not ignite. Knafo was moved to another home after concern emerged that the incident might have been a hate crime. Three Jewish organizations at a public safety headquarters news conference yesterday offered a $10,000 reward for information that leads to arrest of those responsible for the Camp Street incident.
-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 5:17 PM | Permalink

Comments

Post a comment

Please be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish.

Name:

Email Address:

URL:
Remember Me? YesNo

Comments: (you may use HTML tags for style)