Man Who Threw Petrol Bomb at Police Officer in Boston Found Guilty
Overview
Details
A man who threw a petrol bomb at a police officer and aimed an imitation firearm during a terrifying New Year’s Day standoff in Boston has been found guilty of attempting to cause an explosion.
David Wiatrowski, 36, told detectives he was “bored of life” and wanted to make officers think they were going to die before launching the attack.
The incident unfolded in the early hours of 1 January, after officers were called to reports of a man smashing windows at an Aldi supermarket with a hammer.
A lone police officer arrived at the scene to find Wiatrowski armed with a holstered imitation firearm. Moments later, he lit a petrol bomb and hurled it towards the officer’s car, spilling flammable liquid just feet from the vehicle.
The bottle did not break, narrowly preventing a potentially devastating explosion.
Wiatrowski then aimed the fake gun at the officer and made a cocking motion before advancing. The officer, unaware the weapon was an imitation, reversed to safety as Wiatrowski fled.
Detectives identified Wiatrowski through CCTV showing him filling a bottle at a petrol station, which was shared in a public Facebook appeal. He was arrested at his Boston home on 10 January.
During questioning, Wiatrowski said he had no motive other than boredom and admitted he wanted to frighten police.
Following a three-day trial at Lincoln Crown Court, he was convicted of:
- Attempting to cause an explosion with intent to endanger life (guilty)
- Possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence (admitted)
- Affray and criminal damage (admitted)
He will be sentenced on 2 October and is expected to be deported after serving his sentence.
Detective Inspector Melissa Rooke praised the bravery of the officers involved:
“This was a calculated and entirely senseless act, carried out with blatant disregard for the impact it would have.
Our officers faced an individual whose clear objective was to instil fear and potentially inflict serious harm. They responded with enormous bravery.”
Police said the case highlighted the risks frontline officers face and the importance of rapid response in preventing tragedies.
