Inside the 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing, the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in the US

James PasleyAug 16, 2023, 00:06 IST

The north side of the Alfred Murrah Federal Building after a car bomb blast in Oklahoma City.AP

On April 19, 1995, Oklahoma City was rocked by a bombing that destroyed the front half of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.
The bomb killed 168 people and injured another 500. It damaged another 324 buildings as well as 86 cars.

The Oklahoma City bombing was one of the worst acts of domestic terrorism in the US ever.

At around 9 a.m. on April 19, 1995, a truck filled with 4,800 pounds of explosives was detonated destroying the entire front of a nine-story concrete building in downtown Oklahoma City. It killed 168 people and injured another 500.

The bomb was built and detonated by a 26-year-old radicalized veteran named Timothy McVeigh. He later claimed the attack was in response to what happened at the Waco Siege in 1993 and that the government interfering with his right to own and possess guns.

He said he hoped blowing up a federal building in Oklahoma City would give him a platform for his anti-government sentiments and message.

In August 1992, a white separatist named Randy Weaver got into an 11-day standoff in northern Idaho with the FBI over charges he faced for selling illegal weapons.

Randy Weaver shows a model of his Ruby Ridge, Idaho cabin during Senate hearings investigating the events surrounding the 1992 standoff with federal agents.Pamela Price/AFP/Getty Images

The following year, in 1993, in Waco, Texas, federal agents were involved in another deadly standoff. This time, it was with a religious sect called the Branch Davidians led by a man named David Koresh.

The Branch Davidian compound burns at the end of the 51-day standoff with David Koresh and his followers in April 1993.Greg Smith/Corbis/Getty Images

The following year, in 1993, in Waco, Texas, federal agents were involved in another deadly standoff. This time, it was with a religious sect called the Branch Davidians led by a man named David Koresh.

Both of these events were followed closely by a young disenfranchised veteran named Timothy McVeigh.

Timothy McVeighHulton Archive/Getty Images

In February 1992, he wrote a letter to the Lockport Union Sun and Journal which said, "America is in serious decline!" and asked if a new civil war was "imminent."

A mugshot of Timothy McVeigh.Getty Images

In 1994, President Bill Clinton signed a bill banning the sale of certain assault weapons. In response, McVeigh started planning his terrorist attack.

President Bill Clinton discusses the proposed assault weapon ban.Dennis Cook/AP

A veteran named Terry Nichols helped McVeigh plan the attack and another veteran named Michael Fortier at least knew it was going to happen.

Terry Nichols leaves the Pittsburgh County Courthouse after being sentenced to life without parole.Larry W. Smith/Getty Images

On April 19, 1995, exactly two years after the end of the Waco siege, McVeigh — who was then 26 years old — drove a yellow Ryder rental truck with 4,800 pounds of explosives into Oklahoma City.

Timothy McVeigh sits for an interview while in prison.Hulton Archive/Getty Images

On April 19, 1995, exactly two years after the end of the Waco siege, McVeigh — who was then 26 years old — drove a yellow Ryder rental truck with 4,800 pounds of explosives into Oklahoma City.

The Murrah Building was nine floors high, built of reinforced concrete, and housed around 500 workers.

The construction site of the Alfred P. Murrah federal office building.Jim Argo/Oklahoma Historical Society/Getty Images

At 9:02 a.m., the bomb exploded. It was so powerful it destroyed the building's entire front wall.

The aftermath of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.Greg Smith/Corbis via Getty Images

It was one of the worst terrorist attacks in US history at the time and, after 9/11, is one of the worst domestic terrorist attacks in the US ever.

Nothing but rubble remains of the front side of the destroyed Federal Building in the Oklahoma City bombing aftermath.Ralf-Finn Hestoft/Corbis/Getty Images

Though the death toll wasn't clear right away, the bomb killed 168 people — 19 of whom were children — and injured more than 500 people.

People leave tributes to those who died in the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.Greg Smith/Corbis/Getty Images

Emergency responders rushed to the scene and did what they could.

Relief workers carry boxes of medical supplies during the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing.Greg Smith/Corbis/Getty Images

Oklahoma City Police Inspector Jerry Flowers told CNN about the immediate devastation.

Emergency workers sift through the rubble of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The last person found alive was a 15-year-old girl who was found in the building that evening, but the search for victims continued for over a month.

A crowd watches as investigators search the remains of the Alfred P. Murrah Building.Greg Smith/Corbis/Getty Images

The explosion damaged another 324 buildings as well as 86 cars. The property damage was an estimated $652 million.

Debris covers a nearby sidewalk in the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing.David Butow/Corbis/Getty Images

About 90 minutes after the explosion, authorities advised people to evacuate the area.

A firefighter removes a chunk of cement from the rubble of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Less than two hours after the explosion, McVeigh was pulled over because the 1977 yellow Mercury Marquis he was driving didn't have a license plate.

Timothy McVeigh in custody.Pool/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Although McVeigh was in jail, he wasn't charged for the bombing until April 21 when an eyewitness description tied him to it.

Timothy McVeigh was led from a courthouse after being charged.Bob Daemmerich/AFP/Getty Images

In 1997, McVeigh was convicted of murder and was later sentenced to death. Nichols was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and conspiracy and sentenced to life in prison.

A newspaper showing a headline that Timothy McVeigh had received a death sentence.Doug Collier/AFP/Getty Images

In 1997, McVeigh was convicted of murder and was later sentenced to death. Nichols was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and conspiracy and sentenced to life in prison.

Later in 1995, the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was knocked down and in its place, a memorial and the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum were erected.

Implosion of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.Greg Smith/Corbis/Getty Images

There's now a field filled with 168 empty chairs for each of the victims, including 19 smaller chairs to represent the children who were killed.

The chairs represent the 168 people killed in the Oklahoma City bombing.Win McNamee/Getty Images

Despite the scale of the attack, some historians have said it isn't anchored in the national consciousness compared to other terrorist attacks.

Firefighters at work after the bombing in Oklahoma City.Greg Smith/Corbis/Getty Images

One of the bomb survivors, Dennis Purifoy, who lost 16 of his colleagues to the bombing, told The New York Times and PBS he was concerned about the growing prevalence of far-right extremism in the US.

A photo of a white supremacist march through Charlottesville, Virginia.Zach D. Roberts/NurPhoto/Getty Images

One of the bomb survivors, Dennis Purifoy, who lost 16 of his colleagues to the bombing, told The New York Times and PBS he was concerned about the growing prevalence of far-right extremism in the US.

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Inside the 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing, the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in the US

In August 1992, a white separatist named Randy Weaver got into an 11-day standoff in northern Idaho with the FBI over charges he faced for selling illegal weapons.

The following year, in 1993, in Waco, Texas, federal agents were involved in another deadly standoff. This time, it was with a religious sect called the Branch Davidians led by a man named David Koresh.

Both of these events were followed closely by a young disenfranchised veteran named Timothy McVeigh.

In February 1992, he wrote a letter to the Lockport Union Sun and Journal which said, "America is in serious decline!" and asked if a new civil war was "imminent."

In 1994, President Bill Clinton signed a bill banning the sale of certain assault weapons. In response, McVeigh started planning his terrorist attack.

A veteran named Terry Nichols helped McVeigh plan the attack and another veteran named Michael Fortier at least knew it was going to happen.

On April 19, 1995, exactly two years after the end of the Waco siege, McVeigh — who was then 26 years old — drove a yellow Ryder rental truck with 4,800 pounds of explosives into Oklahoma City.

The Murrah Building was nine floors high, built of reinforced concrete, and housed around 500 workers.

At 9:02 a.m., the bomb exploded. It was so powerful it destroyed the building's entire front wall.

It was one of the worst terrorist attacks in US history at the time and, after 9/11, is one of the worst domestic terrorist attacks in the US ever.

Though the death toll wasn't clear right away, the bomb killed 168 people — 19 of whom were children — and injured more than 500 people.

Emergency responders rushed to the scene and did what they could.

Oklahoma City Police Inspector Jerry Flowers told CNN about the immediate devastation.

The last person found alive was a 15-year-old girl who was found in the building that evening, but the search for victims continued for over a month.

The explosion damaged another 324 buildings as well as 86 cars. The property damage was an estimated $652 million.

About 90 minutes after the explosion, authorities advised people to evacuate the area.

Less than two hours after the explosion, McVeigh was pulled over because the 1977 yellow Mercury Marquis he was driving didn't have a license plate.

Although McVeigh was in jail, he wasn't charged for the bombing until April 21 when an eyewitness description tied him to it.

In 1997, McVeigh was convicted of murder and was later sentenced to death. Nichols was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and conspiracy and sentenced to life in prison.

Later in 1995, the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was knocked down and in its place, a memorial and the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum were erected.

There's now a field filled with 168 empty chairs for each of the victims, including 19 smaller chairs to represent the children who were killed.

Despite the scale of the attack, some historians have said it isn't anchored in the national consciousness compared to other terrorist attacks.

One of the bomb survivors, Dennis Purifoy, who lost 16 of his colleagues to the bombing, told The New York Times and PBS he was concerned about the growing prevalence of far-right extremism in the US.