Attorney General Merrick Garland on Monday said the type of terror perpetrated by those responsible for the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing “is still with us,” while giving an address on the 26th anniversary of the attack.
Garland, who helped prosecute the case against bombers Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, returned to Oklahoma City on Monday to commemorate the anniversary of the bombing.
In his speech he recounted the experience of hearing about the bombing, flying out to Oklahoma City to witness the destruction and finding McVeigh.
He also recalled the kindness that was shown to him and other law enforcement officials who were investigating the case, with Salvation Army workers bringing them food and volunteers setting up a laundry service near where they worked, calling this the “Oklahoma standard.”
“Although many years have passed, the terror perpetrated by people like Timothy McVeigh is still with us,” Garland said. “Just last month, the FBI warned of the ongoing and heightened threat posed by domestic violent extremist.”
“Those of us who were in Oklahoma in April 1995 do not need any warning. The hatred expressed by domestic violent extremists is the opposite of the Oklahoma standard,” Garland continued.
In March, FBI assistant director of the counterterrorism Jill Sanborn said during a congressional hearing that racially motivated extremists and anti-government extremists are likely the biggest domestic threats this year and going into 2022.
“We expect racially or ethnically motivated and violent extremists and anti-government, anti-authority violent extremists will very likely pose the greatest domestic terrorism threats throughout 2021, and in fact leading into 2022,” Sanborn told lawmakers.
“The Department of Justice is pouring its resources into stopping domestic violent extremists before they can attack, prosecuting those who do, and battling the spread of the kind of hate that leads to tragedies like the one we mark today,” Garland said. “We must all stand together against them — for the safety of our communities, and for the good of our country.”