Of this country to be intimidated by evil cowards. I have met with our team which we assembled to deal with this bombing. And i have determined to take the following steps to assure the strongest response to this situation. First, i had deployed a Crisis Management team under the leadership of the fbi working with the department of justice, the bureau of alcohol, tobacco and firearms, military and local authorities. We are sending the worlds finalest vefinal e finest investigators to solve the murders. I have declared an emergency in Oklahoma City. At my direction, james lee witt, the director of fema sis on his way there to help the people of Oklahoma City deal with the tragedy. We are taking every precaution to protect people who work in aor live near other places. We will find the people who did this. When we do, justice will be swift, certain and severe. These people are killers and they must be treated like killers. Finally, let me say that i ask all americans tonight to pray. To pray for the people who have lost their lives, to pray for the families and the friends of the dead and the wounded, to pray for the people of Oklahoma City. May gods grace be with them. Meanwhile, we will be about our work. Thank you. This has been a tragic and heartbreaking day. I can tell you this. The fbi and the Law Enforcement community will pursue every lead and use every possible resource to bring the people responsible to justice. The fbi has established a command post in Oklahoma City and it is in 24hour contact with fbi headquarters command post and with the department of justice. Four fbi special agents in charge have been dispatched to the scene to provide 24hour operation of the command post. The fbi has sent four evidence Response Teams and explosive ordinance teams to Oklahoma City. Five of the very best fbi agents experienced in this type of investigation are arriving in Oklahoma City as have bomb technicians from boston, chicago, miami, San Francisco and los angeles. 13 members of the Rapid Start Team will be entering data as the evidence is collected. 50 more agents are available for arrival tomorrow and more will be used as needed. The fbi and federal Law Enforcement have received superb cooperation from local authorities in Oklahoma City. And the federal Law Enforcement agencies are working together. The atf has sent two national Response Teams and a mobile command center. It has three explosive technicians and three Laboratory Technicians in Oklahoma City. And it is prepared to send 20 to 25 more personnel tomorrow. The secret service is also sending explosives experts. In addition, the Oklahoma National guard has been deployed to assist in control of the area and the evacuation of the injured. The United States army has deployed the 61st ordinance detachment with a robot from fort sill, oklahoma. The Tulsa Police Department deployed two bombing at the anything technicians and a dog and a robot. Fema is providing aid and assistance. We cannot tell how long before we can say with certainly what occurred and who is responsible. But we will find the perpetrators and we will bring them to justice. There are reports descriptions of a couple of people. What i can say about evidence and all leads is that it would be it would hinder the investigation to discuss any action that we are taking in pursuant to the leads. We are pursuing every shred of evidence. If people are to be on the lookout, isnt there a way to describe those people . Sounds from everything you have said as if we have concluded this was a terrorist attack of some kind. Can you confirm that . I would not characterize it as such until the evidence is in. We are pursuing every peeiece o evidence. Do you have statistics on the casualties . We have some statistics. They are increasing every moment. What we are trying do ining to pursue every lead. What we have been told is that there were 550 people assigned in the ed building. 250 had been accounted for before i came in. There may be as many as 100 to 250 more people to account for. The casualty figures are climbing. 100 victims have been treated. Six children who were in the Day Care Center have been confirmed as dead. We are just pursuing pursuing absolutely every lead that we can. General, have there been any more threats against any other federal buildings across the country . In a situation like this, there are sometimes terribly misguided horrible people who create copycat situations. Weve responded in each instance and so far nothing thats materialized. Was there any indication, any warning that anything like this could happen because theres been reports that not specific warnings per se but warnings have been likely terrorist activity in the period after march . Again, i cant comment on any specific lead or any of the evidence that we have developed. Do you think it has ties with waco . The current crime bill that the president has signed includes a Death Penalty provision. Assuming you do catch these people, will you go for that . 18 u. S. C. Section relates to those who maliciously destroy a federal building. If death occurs, Death Penalty is available and we will seek it. General reno, any more indication where this device explodeed. Again, that would be commenting on the evidence thats being developed and we would not want to do that because to do so could possibly hind terrify investigation. General, other governments general reno, sorry. On the importance of this event are we crossing a new threshold of concern about security in this country . I think that this has been a matter of concern for all americans any time you see acts like this around the world and i think it is a matter that has got to be pursued with all vigor. I cant tell you whether its a crossroads. I can tell you any time Something Like this occurs we have to do Everything Possible to ensure that the people who are responsible are held accountable and that we do everything we can to prevent a future of recurrence. General, is there whether or not a coincidence . What caution would you urge other people who work in federal buildings or live near them to take . Were working with the General Services administration, the general Marshal Service and fbi to take sensible precautions and the federal employees who have been involved have just been. Wonderful. Is this a coincidence it happened on the second anniversary of the waco siege . Again, were pursuing all lead. We cant tell exactly what happened or who is responsible and it would be better not to comment until we can conclusively talk about it. General, has anyone called to claim responsibility for this . Any credible group or organization . Again, i dont think i should comment on the evidence because to do so would hind terrify investigation. Was it a car bomb . Again, i cant confirm any evidentiary lead were pursuing because i think that would hind terrify investigation. General, if another government or governments are found to be involved, would military retaliation be appropriate . Would it be carried out the i dont think we should deal with what ifs. We should make sure those people responsible are pursued anticipate brought to justice. General, the government of israel offered its help because of their vast experience with this type of thing. Will you accept that help . Well rely on any additional resource that can be involved an utilize it appropriately in bringing these people to justice. Thank you very much. Youre watching a special edition of American History tv. During the week while members of congress are in their districts due to the coronavirus pandemic. Tonight at 8 00 p. M. Eastern well tour the Holocaust Museum for a look at how u. S. , public and government officials reacted to nazi germanys persecution of jews between 1930 and 1945. American history tv now and over the weekend on cspan 3. Every saturday night American History tv takes you to College Classrooms around the country for lectures in history. Why do you all know who lizzy borden is and raise your hand if you ever heard of the jean harris murder trial before this class . Deputyest cause where well find the true meaning of the revolution was in this transformation that took place in the minds of the american people. What well talk about both of these sides of the story here, the tools, techniques of slave owner power and also talk about the tools and techniques of power that were practiced by enslaved people. Watch history professors lead discussions with their students on topics ranging from the American Revolution to september 11th. Lectures in history on cspan 3 every saturday at 8 00 p. M. Eastern on American History tv and lectures in history is available as a podcast. Find it where you listen to podcasts. On april 21st, 1995 attorney general janet reno announced that Timothy Mcveigh was arrested as suspect in the Oklahoma City bombing
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