wolmerica GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A Newaygo County man accused of building bombs because he wanted to “blow up’’ a Satanic Temple in Massachusetts has been indicted on charges that has him facing a decade in prison.
A federal indictment accuses Luke Isaac Terpstra of building several devices he characterized as “bombs’’ and then traveling from his home in Grant, Mich., to Salem, Mass.
With him, he carried an improvised explosive device, multiple firearms and ammunition, according to the indictment filed in Grand Rapids this week.
A federal court hearing has been set for May 13 in Grand Rapids.
Officials say Terpstra, 30, assembled a container that had coins taped to the outside and a container that had rifle ammunition secured to the sides.
He made the drive from Michigan to Massachusetts in September 2023, court records show. Terpstra later said he possessed the bombs because he wanted to “blow up’’ the Satanic Temple, records show.
Salem police say they were told by Michigan law enforcement that Terpstra’s intention was to target the Satanic Temple.
“The City of Salem and the Salem Police Department recognize that it is frightening and concerning that there are individuals who would threaten or carry out violent attacks against others based on their beliefs and that we are a target,” the city said in a statement posted to its website.
“On the one hand, it is gratifying that our federal and local partners were able to thwart Terpstra. On the other, it is terrifying that he walked in our midst planning such violence.”
In a news release, U.S. Attorney Mark Totten said the charges “demonstrate my office’s continued commitment to protecting our citizens from dangerous threats.”
“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,” he said.
