AT THE TIME, Bill Clinton, the then President of the United States called those that were behind the bombing “evil cowards”.

Nineteen years ago today, a car bomb exploded outside a government building in Oklahoma City in the US.

The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building  was extensively damaged in the blast and more than 80 people were killed, including 17 children who were in a nursery. More than 650 people were injured.

Bombing

Until the 9/11 attacks in 2001, the Oklahoma bombing remained the largest terrorist attack on American soil.

Timothy McVeigh, a 33-year old Gulf War veteran, was convicted of the attack and sentenced to death by lethal injection after a two-month trial.

His execution on 11 June 2001 was watched via CCTV by about 30 people including 10 survivors of the bombing and members of the media.

The motive behind the bombing was said to be in retaliation to the Waco siege which also happened on this day.

Here are some images of that day:

Rescue workers stand in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building following a massive explosion, in downtown Oklahoma City. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Thousands of search and rescue crews attend a memorial service in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City Friday, May 5, 1995 AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Karen Ellison of Oklahoma City looks through a chain link fence at the memorial service for rescue workers and volunteers at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

The Alfred Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City is the center of attention Thursday, April 20, 1995, as rescue workers continue digging through the rubble after Wednesday's fatal explosion. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

An injured man looks at the bomb damaged Alfred Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Bella Kok, left, joins other students from Indian Meridian Elementary Kindergarten in Choctaw. in singing the National Anthem during a memorial service for victims of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, in Oklahoma City. Kok is the sister of Baylee Almon, one of the children who died in the bombing. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Timothy McVeigh escorted by law enforcement officials from the Noble County Courthouse in Perry, Oklahoma. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Hans and Torrey Butzer, architects of the Oklahoma City National Memorial, pause in this April 18, 2000, as they look over the Field of Empty Chairs which has 168 chairs memorializing each person who was killed in the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

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