Michigan man accused of making explosives to target Satanic Temple in Massachusetts

A expansive assemblage has indicted a Michigan man, who is accused of taking explosives to Massachusetts past twelvemonth to people a gathering known arsenic the Satanic Temple

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- A Michigan antheral carrying explosives traveled to Massachusetts successful 2023 and aboriginal said helium wanted to stroke up a gathering successful Salem known arsenic the Satanic Temple, according to a national indictment.

Luke Terpstra was charged successful occidental Michigan with 2 felonies: transportation of an explosive and possession of an unregistered explosive.

“Building explosive devices and transporting them with the intent to injure civilians and harm spot puts america each astatine risk," U.S. Attorney Mark Totten said Wednesday.

The indictment was filed Tuesday. Terpstra, 30, of Grant, Michigan, is being held successful the Newaygo County jailhouse connected related authorities charges. He faces a proceeding successful national tribunal adjacent Monday.

The tribunal record doesn't database an lawyer yet who could talk for Terpstra.

The Satanic Temple successful Salem says it doesn’t judge successful Satan but describes itself arsenic a “non-theistic spiritual organization” that supports secularism. There is an creation assemblage astatine the site.

Terpstra had an explosive device, aggregate firearms and ammunition erstwhile helium traveled to Salem successful September, the indictment says. The indictment doesn't notation an alleged motive. No convulsive acts occurred.

“It is terrifying that helium walked successful our midst readying specified violence,” Salem officials said successful January erstwhile section authorities successful Michigan filed the archetypal charges.

In April, a antheral from Oklahoma threw a tube weaponry astatine the main entranceway of the Satanic Temple, causing a insignificant occurrence and different damage, according to national authorities. A handwritten enactment recovered adjacent referred to a combat against “crybaby Satan.”