BARRE, Vt. (AP) – State and city police and federal agents are investigating a pipe bombing that destroyed five vehicles and damaged a sixth parked at an apartment complex for low- and moderate-income residents.

“It’s one of the most serious things that has happened in Barre in a long time,” said Police Chief Trevor Whipple.

Jennifer Lawder, a resident of the Highgate Apartments, said she was afraid for herself and her 1-year-old baby. “We all have children and that’s not something to mess around with.”

Police say the bomb blast struck early Monday. The device had been placed under a 1983 Chevrolet Camaro owned by Alan Frost, also a resident at Highgate.

Frost, 50, said he was in his bedroom getting ready to go to sleep when he heard the first of the explosions shortly after 1 a.m.

“Man, I heard this big Kaboom!’ and let me tell you, that got me out of bed,” he said. “That was one hell of an explosion.”

Once at the window, Frost said he looked down at his burning car. “Before I knew it, all six of them (cars) were on fire,” said Frost, who dialed 911 while watching the scene unfold.

Police said they had interviewed Frost and had no reason to believe Frost was a particular target of the attack.

At a meeting of residents Monday evening, Whipple sought to allay their fears.

“I don’t think you people need to be absolutely in fear, but I do think you need to be cautious,” he said. “Based upon what I’ve seen this was an intention to damage property and frighten people; it wasn’t an intention to hurt people.”

Detective Jonathan Keith, a member of the state police arson investigation unit who is heading up the investigation, said the initial explosion “ripped a hole in the car’s gas tank” and led to a series of smaller explosions that damaged cars that were parked in adjacent spaces.

Whipple said he had asked the state police and agents with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to head up the investigation because they have expertise with bombs that the city police lack.