A suspect has been arrested for allegedly throwing a pipe bomb that damaged The Satanic Temple headquarters in Salem, Massachusetts. The incident occurred on April 8, where a letter addressed to 'Dear Satanist' was found at the scene. The suspect, identified as Sean Patrick Palmer, 49, of Perkins, Oklahoma, was charged with using fire or an explosive to damage a building used in interstate or foreign commerce.
Surveillance cameras captured the suspect igniting and throwing a pipe bomb over a fence onto the covered porch of The Satanic Temple building at approximately 4:14 a.m. The explosive partially detonated, causing minor fire damage to the exterior of the building. Fortunately, no one was inside the building at the time of the incident.
The makeshift device used in the attack was constructed using a plastic pipe covered with taped-on metal nails and filled with smokeless gunpowder. A handwritten note addressed to 'Dear Satanist' was found in the building's flower bed, referencing an incident of vandalism that occurred seven months prior.
If found guilty, Palmer faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. He is expected to appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
The Satanic Temple's headquarters in Salem has been the target of bomb threats and possible hate crimes in the past. The organization expressed gratitude to the Salem community for their support during this challenging period.
It is important to note that The Satanic Temple is a federally recognized international religious organization that maintains an art gallery with a permanent exhibit on Satanism, witch hunts, and moral panic at its Salem headquarters.
