Michigan man accused of making bombs to blow up Satanic Temple charged

DETROIT — A Michigan man accused of planning to blow up The Satanic Temple in Massachusetts last year has been indicted, federal officials said.

Luke Isaac Terpstra, 30, of Grant, was charged Tuesday with transporting an explosive and possessing a destructive device, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten said in a statement Wednesday.

"The charges announced today demonstrate my office’s continued commitment to protecting our citizens from dangerous threats," Totten said. "Building explosive devices and transporting them with the intent to injure civilians and damage property puts us all at risk and those who commit such crimes will be held accountable."

Terpstra is charged with transporting an explosive with the intent to kill, injure, or intimidate individuals or to unlawfully damage or destroy a building and possession of an unregistered destructive device, according to a federal indictment.

If convicted, Terpstra faces up to 10 years in prison for each charge and a fine of up to $250,000, officials said. He could also be required to pay restitution to any victims.

An attorney representing him was not listed in court records Thursday.

Authorities allege Terpstra built several devices that he characterized as bombs and then transported them — along with multiple firearms and ammunition — from Michigan to the site of The Satanic Temple in Massachusetts in September 2023.

Investigators also said not only did Terpstra tell others in December that he had the bombs because he wanted to blow up the temple but in January they found in his possession the makings of improvised explosive devices, including a plastic container with coins attached to it and a piece of cannon fuse coming out of the lid; numerous metal carbon dioxide cartridges; PVC pipe; ammonium nitrate; and hobby fuses.

Terpstra is not the only person to be accused of threatening to bomb the Satanic Temple.

Last month, an Oklahoma man was arrested after allegedly throwing a pipe bomb at the group's Massachusetts headquarters. Sean Patrick Palmer, 49, of Perkins, Oklahoma, has been charged with using an explosive to damage a building.

No one was inside the building at the time and no injuries were reported.

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