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Timothy McVeigh

Timothy McVeigh was an American domestic terrorist best known for carrying out the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Timothy McVeigh was an American domestic terrorist who carried out the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995. The attack killed 167 people and injured 684, making it the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history. He was convicted on federal charges and executed in 2001.

Early life and military service

Timothy McVeigh was born in 1968 in upstate New York. He served in the U.S. Army before becoming a security guard and later adopting anti-government views.

Oklahoma City bombing

On April 19, 1995, McVeigh detonated a truck bomb outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. The attack caused mass fatalities and severe destruction.

Trial and execution

McVeigh was convicted on federal charges connected to the bombing and sentenced to death. He was executed in federal prison in 2001.

Legacy

McVeigh’s actions became a defining event in the history of domestic terrorism in the United States. The bombing influenced public discussion of anti-government extremism and federal security.

Key facts

  • McVeigh was the principal perpetrator of the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.
  • The bombing targeted the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, killing 167 people and injuring 684.
  • It is widely described as the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history.
  • McVeigh was convicted, sentenced to death, and executed by lethal injection on June 11, 2001.
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Canadian context

The Oklahoma City bombing is studied in Canada as a major case of domestic terrorism, anti-government extremism, and emergency response planning in North America.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Timothy McVeigh?
Timothy McVeigh was an American domestic terrorist who carried out the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.
What was Timothy McVeigh convicted of?
He was convicted on federal charges connected to the Oklahoma City bombing.
How many people died in the Oklahoma City bombing?
The bombing killed 167 people, including 19 children.
When was Timothy McVeigh executed?
He was executed by lethal injection on June 11, 2001.
Why is Timothy McVeigh historically significant?
He carried out the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history.

References

  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Timothy-McVeigh
    Supports: Biographical details, Oklahoma City bombing, death, and execution.
  2. Federal Bureau of Investigation — https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/oklahoma-city-bombing
    Supports: McVeigh’s role in the bombing, arrest, and the attack’s significance.
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_McVeigh
    Supports: Birth and death dates, military background, conviction, and execution.