Mattapan

Molotov cocktail thrown through windows in Mattapan, causing small fire

A Boston woman says a childhood friend threw Molotov cocktails through the front and back windows of her Mattapan home; police arrested the man

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Arson investigators are working in Boston's Mattapan neighborhood after someone threw a Molotov cocktail through a window Tuesday afternoon.

Boston police said the object caused a small fire at 27 West Main St. Images from the scene showed a smashed glass window panel in a door to the building.

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Tanea Smith was on Facebook Live outside her home when she heard an explosion.

"I'm feeling a lot more shattered than usual," Smith told NBC10 Boston. "A lot of emotions."

Someone had thrown a Molotov cocktail through Smith's front window. The man then came to her back door and did the same thing, busting out the window and then tossing an explosive inside.

"The window exploded," she said.

The arson squad was called in to investigate, police said.

Neighbors say it's very fortunate no other homes in the housing community were damaged — a fire could have easily spread from unit to unit.

"You've got kids around here," said neighbor Earl Johnson. "I'm three doors away."

Smith says it was a childhood friend who committed the crime, but she has no idea why he did it. He confronted her outside the home before taking off.

Boston police say the man was arrested. His name was not immediately released.

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