Terrorism in America: The Oklahoma City Bombing
On April 19th 1995 the worst terrorist attack on US soil took place in the heartland of America. The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma was targeted and almost completely blown to pieces by one enormous homemade bomb. The unthinkable had happened at the beginning of an average day at the office. This day would be remembered for the rest of America's history, unlike any other day, as a blatant attack on the United States government.
At 9:03 a.m. a massive bomb resting inside a rented Ryder truck destroyed half of the nine story federal building in downtown Oklahoma City. It also claimed the lives of 169 men, women, and children, while injuring hundreds
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He turned himself in, in Herington, Kansas, and was also charged with the bombing shortly after. (Clark, 1995)
There has been speculation that the bombing of the federal building was to demonstrate the anti-government feelings over the 1993 government raid of the Branch Davidian Compound in Waco Texas. Both McVeigh and Nichols were once sited at the compound in Waco and were openly supporting the other Branch Davidians. The bombing occurred exactly two years to the day after the compound burned to the ground killing 80 men, women, and children after a 51-day standoff between the Branch Davidians and the FBI. The bombing definitely put the spotlight on other groups with anti-government sentiments.
McVeigh's trial was set for Denver, Colorado on March 31, 1997. On June 3rd 1997, the jury found McVeigh guilty of all 11 counts, including eight counts of first degree murder in the deaths of eight federal law-enforcement agents, conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction, using a weapon of mass destruction, and destruction of a federal building. The jury deliberated for 23 and a half hours before rendering the verdict. In the end, McVeigh was left all alone as dozens of former best friends and family relatives testified against him (Eddy et al., 1997).
On June 14th 1997, the jury sentenced McVeigh to death by lethal injection. Many of the victims' families were elated with the decision, as many people could
The Oklahoma City Bombing would be considered the worst terrorist attack on America prior to the 9/11 World Trade Center attack. Just outside of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, on April 19th, 1995 a truck exploded, killing 168 people. 19 of those 168 being children. The explosion caused damage to 300 surrounding buildings. Oklahoma City was going through a tragedy and needed guidance from a leader.
The Oklahoma City Bombing was a very special event in American history, it was the biggest act of domestic terrorism until 9/11. The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, which was an office complex in Oklahoma City, was bombed and 168 people were killed. Timothy McVeigh, the subject of my paper, was behind the bombings, and later executed.
There was a problem though with proving that publicity before the trial caused unfair justice during the trial. The Court ruled that the defendant “must establish that an irrepressibly hostile attitude pervaded the community.” McVeigh had was certainly known because of the media covering the bombing, but there was no sign of communities being hostile enough to influence the outcome of the trial. The Court stated “the mere fact of unfavorable
Later, the government changed the bombing theory and insisted that McVeigh was the sole mastermind behind the attack and that no other person other than Nichols who had been involved (Vohryzek et al, 2001). The FBI provided bogus investigation documents to prove their case, but realistically, McVeigh and Nichols were not in capacity to build such a huge fertilizer bomb due to lack of trainings in explosives. Thus, the law enforcement agencies and the federal government lacked evidence in their response to contain these attacks. Instead, they acted in a way to prove their superiority and seriousness to contain terror attacks, thus leading to deaths of innocent
On April 21 it was discovered that McVeigh was already in jail. He had been pulled over about 80 miles north of Oklahoma City by a Oklahoma State Trooper who noticed a missing license plate on his car. It was 90 minutes after the bombing. Agents found traces of the chemicals that were used for
Timothy James McVeigh was an American terrorist who was executed for bombing Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City this incident is known as the Oklahoma City bombing, the attack killed 168 people and injured over 600. His motive was to inspire a revolt against the federal government. He was charged with eleven federal offenses and sentenced to death. He was sentenced to death Four years after his horrible act while most convict receive a minimum of 15 years to be sentenced to death. McVeigh was executed by lethal injection on June 11, 2001. I agree with the verdict because the families and friends of the victims in this incident wanted Timothy McVeigh dead for the immense suffering
Their objective was to serve a search warrant for illegal firearms and explosives, and arrest the cult’s leader, David Koresh, on weapons charges. Unfortunately, Koresh and his group had been tipped off and were waiting as authorities approached. Without warning, gunfire erupted and law enforcement officials found themselves facing cult members armed with explosive devices, military assault rifles, and other semi-automatic weapons” (CRI Statement). At the end of the 11 day standoff, a fire broke out at the cult compound and killed 76 men, women and children; McVeigh believed the government started the fire and he became enraged (Scott, 2013). This is the exact moment, McVeigh became a domestic
April 19, 1995 marked the worst terrorist attack on United States soil until the fatal September 11, attack. The truck-bomb explosion outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City , Oklahoma left 168 people dead, which included 19 children that were in the buildings daycare center at the time, more than 500 injured along with the damage of 300 buildings in the surrounding area. The attack was spearheaded by Timothy McVeigh, along with his co-partner Terry Nichols and to a lesser degree, Michael and Lori Fortier. The attack was in retaliation to other incidents, one at Ruby Ridge Idaho, and the other at Waco Texas. Both were raids by the government on militia or religious fanatics. Civilians were killed in both these actions
The Oklahoma City bombing was one of the known as one of the most tragic bombings that we know of. There are a lot of things that happened that day but we will get to that later. As many of us know there was many thoughts on what happened and the person that did it. Although you may believe something I dont, im going to tell you what the FBI stated was the real facts.
around the world. The explosion took place at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in
On April 19, 1995 a box truck filled with explosives was parked outside of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building located in Oklahoma City. Shortly after 9 am the explosives in the truck were detonated resulting in over a third of the federal building collapsing and another 300 buildings received damage. Emergency crews and law enforcement quickly realized this was a deliberate and well planned attack. It was an attack that they would soon discover to be the largest act of domestic terrorism carried out in the United States that killed a total of 168 people, a number that also included 19 children, and injured hundreds more (FBI, n.d.).
According to ABC, the Oklahoma City bomber has apparently apologized for the 156 people he killed. “I am sorry these people had to lose their lives," McVeigh wrote in a series of recent letters to The Buffalo News to be published Sunday, the day before his execution.” (ABC News) Many people regard Timothy McVeigh as a monster mostly because of the many children he killed on April 19, 1995. But, even with this apology, he is a nauseating, disgusting, monster.
Upon viewing the terrorist attacks that caused the most loss of life and property was the September 11, 2001, attack coming in at number one. Another terrorist attack that resulted in a significant loss of life and property was the Oklahoma City bombing. This domestic terrorist attack resulted in 168 confirmed deaths and roughly 680 injuries. Of the 168 confirmed deaths, nineteen of them were children. When it comes to the cost of the loss of the attack, it is significant.
On February 26th 1993, Al Qaeda members Ramzi Yousef, and accomplice Mohammad Salameh drove a rented van, loaded with explosives into the basement parking lot of the World Trade Center in New York City. The van exploded, killing 6 innocent civilians and
The effect of the bombing on the city was immense--168 confirmed dead, including 19 children and one rescue worker and over 800 people injured. The bombing destroyed or damaged more than 300 buildings in the surrounding area (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Oklahoma_City_bombing).