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Oklahoma City bombing
Several fire-damaged cars located in front of a partially destroyed multi-story building.
The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building two days after the bombing
Location Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
Coordinates 35°28′22.4″N 97°31′01″W / 35.472889°N 97.51694°W / 35.472889; -97.51694
Date Wednesday April 19, 1995
9:02 a.m. CST (UTC–5)
Attack type
truck bomb
Deaths 168
Non-fatal injuries
680+
Perpetrators Timothy McVeigh, Terry Nichols, Michael Fortier, Lori Fortier
Motive Retaliation for the Waco Siege and Ruby Ridge

The Oklahoma City bombing was a terrible attack that happened on April 19, 1995. A large bomb exploded outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. This building was used by the U.S. government.

The bombing caused a lot of damage to the building. It was so badly hurt that it had to be taken down later. Two men, Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, were responsible for setting off a truck bomb. This sad event killed 168 people and hurt more than 800 others. For a while, it was the deadliest act of terrorism in the United States, until the September 11, 2001 attacks.

What Was the Oklahoma City Bombing?

The Oklahoma City bombing was a very serious attack. It happened on April 19, 1995, at 9:02 in the morning. A truck filled with explosives was parked outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. When the bomb went off, it caused a huge explosion.

The explosion destroyed a big part of the nine-story building. Many cars nearby were also damaged. The blast was so powerful that it broke windows in buildings many blocks away. It was a shocking event for the whole country.

Who Was Behind the Attack?

The main person who planned and carried out the bombing was Timothy McVeigh. He was helped by Terry Nichols. They built the bomb using a truck and different chemicals.

McVeigh and Nichols were angry at the U.S. government. They believed the government had too much power. They wanted to get back at the government for things that had happened before.

Why Did the Bombing Happen?

Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols said they bombed the building as a way to get revenge. They were upset about two specific events. One was the Waco Siege in 1993. This was when federal agents had a standoff with a group called the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas. The standoff ended in a fire that killed many people.

The other event was Ruby Ridge in 1992. This was another standoff between federal agents and a family in Idaho. These events made McVeigh and Nichols very angry at the government. They chose April 19 for the bombing because it was the second anniversary of the Waco siege fire.

The Aftermath of the Bombing

After the bombing, rescue workers rushed to help. They searched through the rubble for survivors. People from all over the country offered help and support. It was a very difficult time for Oklahoma City.

The attack led to a huge investigation. Timothy McVeigh was caught soon after the bombing. Terry Nichols was also arrested. Both were later found guilty for their roles in the attack. The bombing changed how the U.S. government thought about security. It also led to new laws to fight terrorism.

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Atentado de Oklahoma City para niños

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