Cops: Lynn blast was no accident

LYNN – Police said Thursday the explosion of an SUV parked outside 120 Empire St. early Tuesday morning was the result of a criminal act and not detonated by the State Police bomb squad.Now, the state Arson Watch Reward program says $5,000 could be rewarded for information leading to an arrest in the case.According to a press release issued Thursday, police originally responded to Empire Street around 2:25 a.m. on a report of gunshots. However, officers discovered a parked Chevy SUV with extensive damage to the windshield and hood by an explosive device that had just been set off.The device was placed on the hood of the vehicle a short time before it exploded.Part of the device ricochet off the road and caused minor damage to a home across the street from the blast.After the explosion, Lynn police and firefighters, along with arson investigators and the State Police bomb squad showed up.The resident of 120 Empire St., who asked not to be identified, said the vehicle belonged to his son and he had no idea why there was an explosion.A neighbor said there were no flames from the explosion, just a lot of black smoke.”It sounded like a bomb. The whole house shook,” said neighbor Maria Soler, who said she immediately ran to check on her son when she heard the noise.”I don’t want to remember it,” she said. “In my mind, it was like 9/11.”Several law enforcement agencies are investigating the incident. Anyone with information is urged to call either Lynn Fire Department Investigator Don Baron at 781-599-0232, Lynn Police Det. Timothy Ferrari at 781-477-4318 or State Police investigators at 1-800-682-9229.