In a Boston federal court on Thursday, an Oklahoma resident named Sean Patrick Palmer, 49, admitted responsibility for an attack involving an explosive device at the headquarters of The Satanic Temple in Massachusetts. Previously, Palmer had pleaded not guilty to charges connected to using an explosive with the intent to cause damage to a building, an attack that took place in the preceding year. The establishment in question doubles as an art gallery.
The organization, which is rooted in Salem, emphasizes secularism and individual freedoms according to its online presence, and it clarifies that its adherents do not actually engage in the worship of Satan. Surveillance footage from the early hours of April 8, 2024, depicted an individual approaching the building at shortly past 4 a.m., equipped with a face mask, a tactical vest, and gloves. The figure then ignited an improvised explosive device and hurled it toward the primary entrance before fleeing the scene. The explosive only partially went off, causing minor damage as per the authorities’ report.
According to investigators, the explosive appeared to be crafted from a section of plastic pipe, from which they managed to retrieve a DNA sample from a single hair. Attempts to reach Palmer’s attorney for a statement were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office disclosed that a six-page note was discovered within a flowerbed near the site, addressed to “Dear Satanist,” and it called for repentance. Additionally, Palmer was found to have made comparable comments on social media platforms. It was further noted that security footage captured a black Volvo, registered in Palmer’s name, maneuvering erratically in the vicinity before and after the explosive incident.
Palmer is scheduled for sentencing on June 12, where he faces the possibility of a prison term spanning five to 20 years, followed by three years of supervised release, in addition to a financial penalty that may reach up to $250,000.