OKLAHOMA TERRORIST INCIDENT

Oklahoma Terrorist Incident

Oklahoma Terrorist Incident

Introduction

Many people believe in the concept of collective responsibility: that all persons of a particular group -- whether they are of a particular gender, age, nationality, religion, sexual orientation etc. -- are responsible for any evil deed perpetrated by one individual in the group. Thus when incorrect rumors circulated that Muslims had bombed the Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City, OK, some people searched for Muslims that they could assault, or for mosques that they could attack. Any Muslim or any mosque was acceptable to satisfy their rage.

Body: Discussion and Analysis

April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building (Murrah Building) in Oklahoma City sent shock waves throughout America. This event was the most devastating incident of domestic terrorism in our Nation's history (Magers 2004). The shock of this terrorist act was magnified by its location—the very center of our country. "This is the place, after all, where terrorists don't venture. The Heartland. Wednesday [April 19] changed everything" (The Daily Oklahoman, April 20, 1995). The effect of the bombing was far reaching—extending well beyond the borders of Oklahoma. It created mass casualties and injuries, affecting not only the immediate victims, survivors, and the Oklahoma City community but also the entire Nation.

In recent years, the Federal Government has been called upon to play a larger role in mitigating and responding to all types of human-caused violent events and disasters. The federal responsibility ranges from immediate disaster relief to long-term assistance that helps communities to recover from the event. Moreover, because terrorist acts are federal crimes, investigated and prosecuted by federal law enforcement officials, federal criminal justice agencies have statutory responsibilities related to victims' rights and services in connection with terrorism criminal cases (Ramano 2004). This range of responsibilities raises the issue of the Federal Government's preparedness to respond to acts of terrorism and the resulting emotional and psychological impacts. Lessons learned from the Oklahoma City bombing response provide a foundation for recommendations to improve planning for services to victims of terrorism in the future, keeping in mind that planning must be flexible to meet the unique circumstances involved in each incident (Newsday 2004). For example, the demands to provide services to victims overseas or to victims who are not from the location of the criminal event pose different challenges from those raised by the Oklahoma City bombing. Analysis of the Oklahoma City bombing and other large terrorism events the Federal Government has responded to over the years reveals a consistent progression of victim assistance challenges for federal agencies with responsibilities in those situations:

? The immediate crisis must be handled.

? Postcrisis victim needs must be met.

? Victims' rights and services must be provided during any criminal justice process.

? Long-term victim needs must be recognized and provided for as they emerge over time.

This report identifies the special measures needed to protect the rights and meet the needs of victims of a large-scale terrorist attack involving mass ...