An Oklahoma man stands accused of a fiery attack on The Satanic Temple in Salem, Mass., after federal authorities charged him with allegedly using a pipe bomb to damage the building. Sean Patrick Palmer, 49, of Perkins, Okla., was arrested following the incident, which took place in the early hours of April 8, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Palmer, who is set to make his initial appearance in the Western District of Oklahoma on Thursday, is charged with igniting and subsequently throwing an improvised explosive device at the temple's main entrance. Surveillance cameras outside the headquarters of The Satanic Temple, which also functions as a public art gallery, caught the act which caused minor damage but did not result in any injuries. According to the charging documents, the suspect was dressed in black attire and quickly fled the scene after throwing the device.

The criminal complaint includes a directly attributed handwritten note found nearby, with the author proclaiming, "ELOHIM SEND ME 7 MONTHS AGO TO GIVE YOU PEACEFUL MESSAGE TO HOPE YOU REPENT. YOU SAY NO, ELOHIM NOW SEND ME TO SMITE SATAN AND I HAPPY TO OBEY." The letter suggests a religious motivation behind the attack, which Palmer appeared to echo in social media posts that frequently touched on similar religious themes.

Further evidence points to Palmer's ownership of a black Volvo sedan, spotted driving erratically in the vicinity before and after the attack. Authorities also allege that just days before the incident, Palmer purchased PVC pipes and end caps from an Oklahoma home improvement store, materials which matched those used to construct the bomb. If convicted, Palmer could face a serious prison term, as the charge of using fire or an explosive to cause damage to a building used in interstate or foreign commerce carries a minimum of five years to up to 20 years behind bars.

The case, brought forth by the collective efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies, is yet another reminder of the continued vigilance required in the face of domestic extremism. The aforementioned details in the charging documents are still allegations at this point, with Palmer maintaining the presumption of innocence until, and unless, proven guilty. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason A. Casey of the National Security Unit will be handling the prosecution.