Two people have been arrested in connection with an explosion at an LGBT newspaper box in Salem.
The explosion happened in mid-August.
John Richard, 23 of Hollis, NH; and Lawrence Gilman, 20 of Milford, NH, have been served summons to appear in court on Friday.
Both are charged with malicious defacing or damaging property over $250 and placing an incendiary device.
According to police, seven people were seen placing explosives inside the Rainbow Times newspaper box in Salem Square, then ran off as it blew up.
Rainbow Times is New England’s largest LGBT newspaper and co-owner Nicole Lashomb said as many as a dozen Rainbow Times newspaper boxes have been vandalized in downtown Salem over the past few months. Lashomb said the paper has made sure to keep the newspaper boxes in view of a traffic camera because of this but said the vandalism has never reached this level.
Police said they received several calls reporting the explosion, with people from a mile away saying they could hear it.
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