A Satanic Temple in Salem, Mass., was hit by a firebomb in what the center’s cofounder has denounced as a “horrific act of attempted terrorism.”
An explosive device was thrown at the three-story temple at around 4:15 a.m., according to Salem police — who are investigating along with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.
“No one was present in the building at the time and the device and damage it caused were not discovered until staff arrived” around 12 hours later, police said while appealing for witnesses and tips on possible suspects.
The temple has been targetted before, and was lucky to have just escaped with a scorched side to the building, the Satanic Temple’s co-founder, Lucien Greaves, told WBZ.
“It can’t be overstated that this was definitely a horrific act of attempted terrorism and people could be hurt,” Greaves said.
State Police bomb technicians inspected the explosive to make sure it no longer posed a threat, and K-9s swept the building for additional bombs, police said.
FBI agents from the agency’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and officers with and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also showed up to investigate.
It was not the first time that the Salem Satanic Temple has been on the receiving end of threats and alleged hate crimes, according to police.
In January, a Michigan man was arrested for allegedly plotting to bomb the site.
In June 2022, a resident of Chelsea, Mass., was charged with starting a fire at the Satanic Temple in Salem, which burned the porch but caused no injuries.
“People just have different religious perspectives and people should do what they can to live with that diversity,” Greaves said. “And they don’t have to resort to ridiculous actions like this.”
Founded in 2013, the Satanic Temple says it doesn’t believe in Satan but describes itself as a “non-theistic religious organization” that advocates for secularism.”
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