Authorities are Offering $5k Reward for Information on the Rainbow Times Newsbox Explosion

SALEM, MA — Authorities are offering a $5,000 reward for any information that helps police in the investigation of the explosion of a Rainbow Times news box in Salem Square early Tuesday morning.

State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostrokey announced Friday that the Arson Watch Reward Program is offering a $5,000 reward for "information that helps to solve the crime of arson." A group of seven people placed an unknown explosive device inside a news box of the LGBTQ newspaper at around 1:19 a.m. Tuesday morning causing an explosion which was heard up to one mile away, police say.

The Arson Watch Reward Program is funded by the property and casualty insurance companies of Massachusetts.

The Rainbow Times is a Boston-based LGBTQ newspaper that was founded in 2006.

In a video posted by the Salem Police Department (which can be viewed below), a group of individuals are pictured walking toward the news box. Several individuals walk away slowly, with a few more running away from the box just seconds after the explosion goes off.

Multiple flashes of light can be seen shooting out from the box.

“Anyone with information about this event that took place about 1:20 a.m. is asked to call the statewide Arson Hotline, toll-free, 24-hours a day at 1-800-682-9229 or the Salem Police at (978) 744-0171 ext. 179," Ostroskey said in a press release.