2005 University of Oklahoma bombing

The 2005 University of Oklahoma bombing occurred on Saturday, October 1, 2005 at approximately 8:00 p.m. 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 with 84,501 spectators watching a football game,^[1] and reports are mixed on whether or not the bomber 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. ^[2]

Initial events

The explosion happened shortly before halftime of a football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and the Kansas State Wildcats, where over 84,500 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.^[3] 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. During the fourth quarter an announcement was made to the crowd to avoid the South Oval area of campus. No further explanation was given for these announcements.

Explosive device

In a press conference university president David Boren said that Hinrichs used explosives strapped to his body. ^[4] Initially, it appeared that the device was made from hydrogen peroxide. ^[5] Later it was revealed that it was actually composed of triacetone triperoxide (TATP), a derivative of various household products including hydrogen peroxide. TATP is an extremely unstable 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 p.m..^[6] It was likely a backpack or bag, but not a second device.

Responsible party

In a press conference on October 2, 2005, 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^[7]. His father, Joel Hinrichs Jr., described him as a "very private individual" who had gone through "several severe bouts of depression". Joel's depression was noted as early as ten years old. His father believes that the "underlying cause was his inability to bond with other people. He couldn't make friendships." He said that Joel had a hard time relating with others and that he "was very sensitive and defensive in interacting with others, to the point he didn't even know his own roommate. He went on to say that Hinrichs had been undergoing counseling at Goddard Health Center, which is located on campus.^[8] Even after the event was announced that the incident was simply the act of a troubled youth ending his life, others assessed the situation differently. Mark Tapscott of the Heritage Foundation remarked, "There are about 30,000 suicides in America, unfortunately, every year. And you can go back a decade, and you will not find a single one of those suicides who blew themselves up in proximity, close proximity, to 84,000 people at a football game." ^[9]

Hinrichs was a member of Triangle Fraternity. Hinrichs' father said that Joel had "recently moved out of the fraternity house because "he didn't bond, didn't relate well to the other fraternity members." In the chapter meeting following the bombing the members of his fraternity were asked to direct all questions and comments to one member of their fraternity and not to discuss anything with the media, this was advised in hopes of limiting rumors and other theories. ^[10]

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.^[11] Ammonium nitrate was used in the Oklahoma city bombing in 1995. It was later revealed that a Norman off-duty police officer overheard the conversation between the feedstore owner and Hinrichs. The officer followed Hinrichs out of the store and checked Hinrichs' licence plate. The officer then started an investigation when his shift started. That investigation was still in progress when the bomb went off.^[12]

Hinrichs had a Pakistani student roommate and there are rumors that Hinrichs was an Islamic convert and attended the Norman mosque where Zacharias Moussaoui had previously attended ^[13]. (However Ashraf Hussein, the president of the Muslim Student Association at OU, has denied that Hinrichs attended mosque in Norman.^[14]) The mosque in question is near the apartment in which Hinrichs lived before his suicide. There have also been claims that investigators found Islamic jihad material in Hinrichs' apartment{. The local congressman, Tom Cole (R-OK), said he asked the FBI about the jihadist material and was told that absolutely none was found. ^[15]

There are also reports that Hinrichs tried to enter the stadium and was denied entry after refusing to be searched. Hinrichs was not a student season ticket holder. Cole indicated that the FBI told him "We may 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' family and friends claim that Hinrichs has long been fascinated with bombs and ammunition. ^[15]

Mr. Hinrichs left a suicide note on his computer that was found when investigators entered his apartment. The suicide note said, "None of you are worth living with. You can all kiss my ass."^[16]

In July 2006, the FBI formally declared that there was no evidence that Mr. Hinrichs was a terrorist. ^[16]

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 4:00 p.m. CDT October 2, 2005, with the exception of the area where a bench once stood outside of George Lynn Cross hall.

Bomb squad prepares to enter Hinrichs' apartment

Additionally, Parkview apartment complex, which is just to the east of campus and south of the Duck Pond, as well as the Ashley Square apartment complex were partially evacuated at approximately 7:00 a.m. CDT and are barricaded off limits to the general public. Law enforcement vehicles and personnel had been in the area since approximately 3:00 a.m. CDT on Sunday, October 2, 2005, 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 p.m. CDT on October 2, 2005, 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, 2005, David Boren expressed that it was "safe and appropriate" to resume class on Monday, October 3, 2005.^[17] In another letter to the OU community, issued on October 6, 2005, Boren asked people not to rush to judgement as to the motive behind the bombing.^[6]

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 judgment after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing where there was a rush to assume that there was a Middle Eastern link to the bombing. Boren explains, "He happened to have had a roommate, who didn't live in the same room but in the room next door, who was from Pakistan. Immediately, the word spread that he was tied to Al-Qaeda, that there were other students that were involved, that there were tickets to Islamic countries that were found, air tickets, and other things." The FBI then briefed him and let him know there were no such materials. It was not certain who Boren was referring to, however it is notable to mention similar speculations from the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing where the terrorist was also incorrectly labeled as Middle Eastern. He goes on to defend the fact that it was an incident only intended to harm himself. "Well, the more we looked into the situation, the more it appeared to be an individual incident. He was seated by himself, he was away from the crowd, he had not attempted to enter the stadium." He continues his statement explaining to the public that they looked over every single tape they had rolling that night, all of which gave them every opportunity to know exactly who attempts to enter their stadium on any given night, and they all defended his opinion that Hinrichs did not attempt to enter the building.

"As we all now know, the person responsible was not someone from the Middle East but was Timothy McVeigh and at least one other American who assisted him," the statement read. "We can only hope that all of us, including some media outlets, would have learned from that recent rush to incorrect conclusions."

After the incident police officers questioned Hinrichs' roommate, Fazal M. Cheema, and other Muslim students. Since then many Muslim students and community members became fearful of the social reaction. One member of the Muslim Student Association stated, "I fear for my security now because of all this speculation."^[18]

On October 17, 2005, 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. ^[19]

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