2005 University of Oklahoma bombing

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The 2005 University of Oklahoma bombing occurred on Saturday, October 1, 2005 at approximately 8:00 PM CDT, when a bomb went off near the George Lynn Cross Hall on the University of Oklahoma (OU) campus. The explosion was approximately 500 feet away from a stadium packed with spectators watching a football game, and reports are mixed on whether or not he tried to enter the stadium before the explosion. The Norman, Oklahoma police department reported that the bomber, Joel Henry Hinrichs III, was killed in the explosion, and have described it as a suicide bombing. No one other than the bomber was killed. Minor damage was done to George Lynn Cross Hall.[1]

Contents

Initial Events

The explosion happened shortly before halftime during a football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and the Kansas State Wildcats, where over 84,000 people were in attendance. Although the explosion was heard and felt inside the stadium -- with the west side of the stadium literally shaking -- no announcements were made to alert the crowd. The explosion was reported as being heard up to five miles away.[2]During the third and fourth quarters of play, announcements were made for bus drivers to leave the stadium and meet at the northwest corner of the Asp Avenue Parking Facility, but no reason was given for these announcements.

Explosive Device

In a press conference, university president David Boren said that Hinrichs used explosives strapped to his body.[3]. Initially, it appeared that the device was made from hydrogen peroxide.[4] Later it was revealed that it was actually composed of TATP, triacetone triperoxide, a derivative of household products, one of which is hydrogen peroxide. TATP is an extremely volatile compound, and will sometimes detonate spontaneously.

There were also reports of a second device being found and a controlled detonation taking place at approximately 9:00 PM, but in a statement released by the University, Boren says that while something was found and detonated, it was not an explosive device.[5] It was likely a backpack or bag.

Responsible Party

In a press conference on October 2, university President David L. Boren identified Joel Henry Hinrichs III, 21, an engineering student at OU, as responsible for the bombing.

Hinrichs was originally from Colorado Springs, Colorado, a National Merit Scholar who graduated from Wasson High School in May 2002[6]. His father, Joel Hinrichs Jr., described him as a "very private individual" who had gone through "several severe bouts of depression". He went on to say that Hinrichs had been undergoing counseling at Goddard Health Center, which is located on campus.[7]

Hinrichs was a member of Triangle Fraternity.

According to local media, Hinrichs had even bigger plans originally, as he had tried to buy ammonium nitrate at a local feed store, Ellison Feed & Seed, according to its owner.[8] Ammonium nitrate was used in the Oklahoma city bombing in 1995. It was later revealed that a Norman off-duty police officer overheard the conversion between the feedstore owner and Hinrichs. The officer followed Hinrichs out of the store and checked ran Hinrichs' licence plate. The officer then started an investigation when his shift started. That investigation was still in progress when the bomb went off.[9]


Hinrichs had a Pakistani student roomate and it has been claimed that Hinrichs was a Islamic convert and attended the Norman mosque where Zacharias Moussaoui had previously attended. However Ashraf Hussein, the president of the Muslim Student Association at OU, has denied that Hinrichs attended mosque in Norman.[10] The mosque in question is near the appartment in which Hinrichs lived before his suicide. There have have also been claims that investigators found Islamic jihad material in Hinrichs' apartment. The FBI has denied these claims saying it has found no information tying Hinrich to the terrorist activities. [11]. The local congressman, Tom Cole (R-OK), said he asked the FBI about the jihadist material and was told that "absolutely none" was found. Furthermore Cole said that the FBI had no evidence that Hinrichs attended the mosque. There are also reports that Hinrichs tried to enter the stadium and was refused entry after refusing to be searched. Hinrichs was not a student season ticket holder. Cole indicated that the FBI told him "We many never know" if Hinrichs really did have plans to enter the stadium. The FBI had no evidence either way. Cole also said that the FBI told him that Hinrichs's family and friends claim that Hinrichs has long been fascinated with bombs and ammunition. [12]

Mr. Hinrichs left a suicide note on his computer that was found when investigators entered his appartment. The cursor was still blinking at the end of the note when the note was found. According to his father, the note was angry and used profanity. [13]

Aftermath

Following the game, the South Oval region of the campus was marked as off-limits with crime scene tape. As of the following day, these areas were off limits to the general public, but the majority of campus re-opened as of 4 PM CDT October 2, with the exception of the area where a bench once stood outside of George Lynn Cross hall.

Additionally, Parkview apartment complex, which is just to the east of campus and south of the Duck Pond, as well as the Ashley Lane apartment complex were evacuated at approximately 7 AM CDT and are barracaded off limits to the general public. Law enforcement vehicles and personnel had been in the area since approximately 3 AM CDT on Sunday, October 2, and finally left on Monday morning. There was concern that there might be explosives in an apartment, as well as vehicular explosives in the parking lots of either apartment complex. A search of Hinrichs' apartment did, in fact, yield a substantial amount of explosive materials, according to authorities. However it is likely that the materials found were deactivated military munitions, which Hinrichs was fond of collecting.

Around 9:30 PM CDT on October 2nd, a series of explosions was heard in the Norman area. These were later to be confirmed by the Norman police department as controlled detonations of materials found in the suspect's apartment. These detonations took place at the Norman Police Department shooting range which is located near campus.

In an open letter to the university community released on October 2, David Boren expressed that it was "safe and appropriate" to resume class on Monday, October 3.[14] In another letter to the OU community, issued on October 6, Boren asked people not to rush to judgement as to the motive behind the bombing[1]

Most of the news media, including our own OU Daily, and most citizens have responded very responsibly. Unfortunately, there are always a few who do not. Among the core beliefs which define us as Americans and which define us as members of the OU family from all backgrounds is a respect for others. We believe that we should not judge others or jump to conclusions about others on the basis of color, race, gender, economic status, or freely exercised religious beliefs. To rush to judge others or make assumptions about them on that basis is nothing short of prejudice. It has no place in America and it certainly has no place at the University of Oklahoma.

Boren went on to remind people about the rush to judgement after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing where there was a rush to assume that there was a Middle Eastern link to the bombing. The letter was probably written in response to rumours linking Hinrichs to Muslim groups in Norman.

On October 17, season ticket holders received a letter from President Boren warning of increased security starting with the next home game after bombing, OU vs. Baylor, which took place on October 22, 2005. These increased security measures include more security cameras and x-ray devices. Fans were told to arrive earlier than they would have. [15]

Notes

1. ^ Boren, David. 2005. President Boren Cautions Against Rush to Judgment. Open letter to University of Oklahoma Students, Faculty, and Staff.

References

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