This is a hate crime: Daniel Lucey admits to starting fire at Satanic Temple, police say

A Chelsea man has been charged with setting fire to the Satanic Temple in Salem allegedly admitted to police that he sparked the blaze for the purpose of committing a ‘hate crime.’

Daniel Lucey, 42, faces charges of arson, interfering with civil rights, and vandalism to a place of worship, Salem police said in a statement.

The Temple’s co-founder Lucien Greaves posted surveillance images that caught Lucey on camera wearing a ‘GOD’ t-shirt and smoking what appears to be a cigarette as he allegedly ignites the porch of the temple building.

“We will fix it. We will clean it up, air out the smoke, and we will reopen,” Greaves said in the post.

Salem police received multiple 911 calls just after 10 p.m. on Friday for a fire in the building at 64 Bridge Street, Salem, the Satanic Temple. Upon arrival, officers found the front porch alit. Police tried to extinguish the flames with fire extinguishers, but were unsuccessful. The building, which was occupied at the time, was evacuated and the Salem Fire Department was able to contain and extinguish the blaze.

The Temple sustained damage to the front porch area; no injuries were reported.

Investigation determined that the fire had been deliberately set; an individual was observed pouring a flammable liquid on the porch and setting it on fire.

Lucey was arrested without incident at the scene. When interviewed by police, Lucey admitted to traveling to Salem for the express purpose of setting fire to the Temple. Lucey made statements that he considered his actions a “hate crime.”

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