It was shortly after 9:00 a.m. on April 19, 1995. Workers had just reached their offices in the Afred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Some had dropped off their children in the second-floor day-care center. Suddenly, a deafening blast shattered the morning calm. Inside a rental truck parked in front of the building, a powerful bomb had exploded. In a matter of seconds, the building was ripped apart.
As Americans watched their televisions in horror, rescue workers combed the rubble. Their efforts saved hundreds of injured survivior but eventually uncovered 168 bodies, including those of 19 children. Americans asked who could have committed this vile act of terrorism—the worst ever on U.S. soil. Many suspected foreign terrorists; but the FBI soon had American suspects in custody.
Timothy McVeigh, a 27-year-old army veteran, was the prime suspect. He and a friend, Terry Nichols were linked to the rental truck and the explosives. Both were known to distrust the federal government. They were particularly angry about the 1993 government raid on a cult group in Waco, Texas, that claimed 80 lives. The two men plead not guilty to charges of conspiracy and murder. McVeigh was eventually put to death and as of this date Nichols is still in prison.
Experts determined that the bomb that destroyed the federal office building was made from ammonium-nitrate fertilizer and fuel oil.