Oklahoma City Bombing

On April 19, 1995, a parked Ryder truck containing agricultural fertilizer, diesel fuel,

and various chemicals, exploded at 9:02 a.m. in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City. The explosion claimed the lives of 168 individuals and injured 680 others. (Oklahoma Department of Civil Emergency Management., 1996)

The next day investigators were able to locate the rear axle of the Ryder truck which contained a vehicle identification number. The FBI agents were then able to discover a body shop located in Junction city, Kansas where the vehicle originated. With the assistance of the shop employees, the FBI was able to create a composite drawing of the vehicles previous renter. Local hotel employees identified the man as Tim McVeigh. ( The Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2010)

On April 21 it was discovered that McVeigh was currently in custody from a previous traffic stop for not having a license plate on his vehicle and carrying a concealed weapon. Forensic analysis found traces of the chemicals used in the explosion on McVeigh’s clothes and a business card with containing the writing, “TNT @ $5/stick, need more”.  ( The Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2010)

The FBI agents were able to learn of McVeigh’s extremist ideologies and his expressed irritation of the federal government's handling of the 1992 FBI standoff with Randy Weaver at Ruby Ridge as well as the Waco siege from 1993. ( The Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2010)

On June 2, 1997 McVeigh was sentenced to death after being found guilty on 11 counts of murder and conspiracy. (U.S. v. McVeigh, 1998)

McVeigh’s motives for the bombing make the attack an act of terrorism using the current definition under federal regulation; “the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.”6 Second, 18 U.S.C.   Section 802. The bombing can be further defined as domestic terrorism by referencing Section 802 of the USA PATRIOT Act (P.L. 107-52). According to 18 U.S.C. Section 2331(5), which defines domestic terrorism to include; “acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State”. (Bjelopera, 2013)