Police seeking person of interest in firebombing

LYNN – State Police investigators are seeking the public’s help in identifying a person of interest in a firebombing at a city bar in December.Lynn District Fire Chief Tim Collier said firefighters responded at 1:48 a.m. Friday, Dec. 20 to Players Sports Bar at 856 Western Ave. on the report of an outside fire. Collier said the fire was extinguished when personnel arrived, but firefighters reported a strong smell of gasoline at the scene and called fire investigators. Fire officials cleared the scene at 2:23 a.m.State Police said in a press release Tuesday that two Molotov cocktails were thrown at the establishment after it closed that evening. Police released photos of a white or Hispanic man wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and dark baseball hat who was involved in a fight at the bar earlier in the evening, and who matched the description of a person police said threw the explosive device.Bar patrons said the person of interest may have been named Vincent, and further information suggests the person may be from Revere or surrounding communities, according to police.Anyone with information regarding this individual is asked to contact the State Police Fire and Explosions Investigation Section at 978-567-3310.Collier said that there did not appear to be any damage to the business. The owner of the restaurant could not be reached Tuesday afternoon.