Oklahoma Man Indicted In Salem Satanic Temple Bombing

SALEM, MA — The Oklahoma man accused of throwing a pipe bomb onto the porch of The Satanic Temple of Salem and leaving a threatening manifesto calling for the destruction of the temple and, possibly, the city in April was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston.

Sean Patrick Palmer, 49, of Perkins, Okla. was charged with the attack on April 17 — nine days after a pipe bomb caused damage when it was thrown onto the porch of the Salem temple around 4 a.m. The damage was found when staff arrived at the temple, which is also an art gallery, later that afternoon.

(Also on Patch: 'Terrorist Attack': Salem Mayor Condemns Satanic Temple Bomb Attempt)

The U.S. Attorney's Office said video surveillance captured a man matching Palmer's description walking toward the temple at about 4 a.m. wearing a black face covering, a tan-colored tactical vest and gloves.

According to the charging documents, the pipe bomb was constructed from a section of plastic pipe covered with metal nails attached to the pipe with tape. The inside was filled with a powder-like substance identified as smokeless gunpowder.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said DNA from a caucasian man was found on the outside of the explosive and that a six-page handwritten note was found near the bomb that read, in part, that the writer was sent to "smite Satan" and that they were "happy to obey."

"Elohim no like this place and plan to destroy it. Maybe Salem too? Elohim send me to fight crybaby Satan. But want me to make hard effort so no one dies. I obey," the note said, according to court documents.

Palmer will appear in a federal court in Boston at a later date.