How did the Waco siege influence Timothy McVeigh and the Oklahoma City bombing?

The Waco siege, a 51-day standoff between federal agents and the Branch Davidian religious group that ended in a deadly fire on April 19, 1993, served as a primary catalyst for Timothy McVeigh. McVeigh viewed the government’s actions at the compound as an illegal abuse of authority and a form of state-sponsored persecution against dissidents.12

In March 1993, McVeigh traveled to Waco to observe the siege firsthand, an experience that deepened his antigovernment paranoia and connected him with members of the militia movement. He ultimately chose to carry out the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995—the second anniversary of the fire at the Branch Davidian compound—specifically to avenge the deaths that occurred there. By targeting a federal building, McVeigh sought to strike back at the government institution he held responsible for the tragedy at Waco.34

Acts of terrorism are morally reprehensible and fundamentally violate the sanctity of human life and the principles of a free, democratic society.