Oklahoma man accused of throwing pipe bomb at satanic temple in Massachusetts
An Oklahoma man is accused of throwing a pipe bomb at a satanic temple in Massachusetts earlier this month.
In federal court in Boston, Sean Patrick Palmer, 49, of Perkins, was charged with using an explosive to cause damage to a building used in interstate or foreign commerce.
Authorities arrested Palmer this week.
Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney's Office in Massachusetts said in a news release that on early April 8, surveillance cameras outside The Satanic Temple in Salem recorded a man walking toward the facility and wearing black pants, a black jacket, a black face covering, a tan-colored tactical vest and gloves.
As the man approached the temple, he ignited a pipe bomb, threw it at the main entrance and ran away, the release stated.
The pipe bomb partially detonated and caused a minor fire and related damage to the temple’s exterior, according to the news release.
The pipe bomb appeared to have been constructed from a section of plastic pipe covered with metal nails, which were attached to the pipe with tape, prosecutors said.
Earlier: A satanic temple in flames: The hunt is on for suspect who threw a pipe bomb in Salem
The inside of the pipe was filled with a powder-like substance, which is believed to have been smokeless gunpowder. Prosecutors said a single human hair on the pipe bomb contained a DNA profile from a white man.
Investigators recovered a six-page handwritten note in a flower bed near where the pipe bomb was found.
The letter is alleged to have stated:
“DEAR SATANISTELOHIM SEND ME 7 MONTHS AGO TO GIVE YOUPEACEFUL MESSAGE TO HOPE YOU REPENT. YOU SAYNO, ELOHIM NOW SEND ME TO SMITE SATAN AND IHAPPY TO OBEY. AND ELOHIM WANT ME TO CONTACTYOU TO TELL YOU REPENT. TURN FROM SIN. ELOHIMNO LIKE THIS PLACE AND PLAN TO DESTROY IT. MAYBESALEM TOO? ELOHIM SEND ME TO FIGHT CRYBABYSATAN, BUT WANT ME TO MAKE HARD EFFORT SO NOONE DIES. I OBEY.”
Prosecutors allege that surveillance footage obtained during the investigation identified a black Volvo sedan — allegedly registered to Palmer — driving erratically near the temple before and after the incident.
A photograph of Palmer on social media allegedly shows him wearing a tan-colored tactical vest like the vest worn by the suspect in the temple surveillance video, prosecutors said in the news release.
He is alleged to have posted comments on social media that were similar to the statements in the handwritten note investigators recovered.
Prosecutors accuse Palmer of buying PVC pipe — similar to the one used to make the pipe bomb — from a home improvement store in Oklahoma on April 3.
If convicted, Palmer faces up to 20 years in prison. It was unclear in court documents if Palmer has an attorney.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma man accused of throwing pipe bomb at Satanic Temple in Salem
