LOOKING BACK: Bomb explodes at federal building in Oklahoma City

Wednesday, April 19, 2017
Oklahoma City federal building explodes in 1995
April 19th 1995, a bomb explodes in front of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY, Ok -- On April 19, 1995, a bomb exploded in front of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people. It was the deadliest act of terrorism on U.S. soil until the September 11 attacks six years later.

The blast destroyed one third of the federal building and destroyed or damaged more than 300 other buildings.

Coverage of the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995

The bombing was carried out by Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, both angry at the government over the standoffs at Ruby Ridge and the Branch Davidian compound in Waco. April 19 was the anniversary of the end of the siege at Waco.

McVeigh and Nichols were both convicted of the bombing. McVeigh was executed in 2001, and Nichols is currently in prison serving a life sentence.

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