Today is the anniversary of both the Waco Siege and the Oklahoma City bombings. The Waco siege began on February 28, 1993 and ended with 76 people, including children, dying on April 19, 1993. Led by David Koresh, The Branch Davidians lived at Mount Carmel Center ranch were it was believed they had firearms. Upon obtaining a warrant, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the FBI attempted to raid the compound. A 51 day standoff ended after the FBI launched an attack on the ranch that included tear gas. Soon after that, the compound was engulfed in flames.
Two years after the Waco massacre/ siege, Timothy McVeigh launched a domestic terrorist attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Until 9/11, the Oklahoma City bombing was the “most destructive act of terrorism on American soil.” A total of 168 people were killed, including 19 children under the age of 6, and 680 people were injured. McVeigh, who acted alone, was captured 90 minutes after the bombing and went on to site the Waco siege and his hate for the American government as a motive for his actions. On June 11, 2001 McVeigh he was executed. Read more below.
Today we remember the victims of both senseless tragedies, especially with the craziness in Boston occurring today.
More information on Waco here.
For more on Oklahoma here.
