News

Police: Man claimed to be Osama Bin Laden before attempting to firebomb restaurant

HYANNIS, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- A man accused of trying to firebomb a Hyannis restaurant reportedly told the owner he was Osama Bin Laden.

According to a Barnstable Police Department report, Lucas Penna approached the owner of Prova Brazil Restaurant on Dec. 26, the night before police said he tried to light a Molotov cocktail and throw it through one of the restaurant's windows.

The owner of the restaurant told police that Penna told him that he was Osama Bin Laden and that he was going to blow the restaurant up. Following the exchange, the owner took a photo of Penna and called police.

The next night, police said Penna drove to the restaurant on his moped and pulled a bottle out of his backpack. Police said surveillance video showed a flash of light near the neck of the bottle and then showed Penna try to throw it through a window.

Penna is then seen walking away from the building only to return a minute later. Police said he then threw a brick through the same window.

Penna was charged with wilful injury to a dwelling or a building, possession of an infernal machine and attempt to burn a building.

Police said Penna is a Brazilian national and is in the U.S. on a visa.