SALEM — Authorities have arrested a man from Oklahoma accused of throwing a pipe bomb at The Satanic Temple last week.
According to a statement from the Department of Justice, Sean Patrick Palmer, 49, of Perkins, Okla., was arrested and charged with using fire or an explosive to cause damage to a building used in interstate or foreign commerce. The statement adds that at approximately 4:14 a.m. on April 8, surveillance footage outside of the building captured a man, presumed to be Palmer, walking toward the temple in black pants, a black jacket, a face covering, a tan-colored tactical vest, and gloves.
“According to the charging documents, as the man approached TST, he ignited a pipe bomb — a type of improvised explosive device or ‘IED’ — threw it at TST’s main entrance, and then ran away,” the statement from the DOJ reads. “Seconds later, the pipe bomb partially detonated causing minor fire and related damage to TST’s exterior.”
At the time, the temple was closed and there was reportedly no one in the building.
The statement continues that the pipe bomb was likely made using plastic pipe covered with metal nails attached with tape. A “powder-like” substance was inside the bomb, which was preliminarily identified as gunpowder. A DNA profile of a Caucasian male was identified through a single human hair found on the bomb.
Palmer also allegedly left a six-page handwritten note addressed to a satanist, which was found in a flowerbed adjacent to where the bomb was located.
If Palmer is found guilty, the charges carry a sentence of at least five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison, with three years of supervised release, and a fine up to $250,000.
