OKLAHOMA CITY: AFTER THE BOMB : The Price Tag

The cost of the Oklahoma City bombing could surpass the $510 million in damage caused by the World Trade Center explosion. Damage to insured property alone is expected to top $200 million but the Insurance Information Institute says the total figure could be much higher. Rebuilding the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building will cost $28 million, not counting the cost of demolishing and removing what is left of the damaged structure. Eight other buildings have been destroyed and 14 more need major repairs. The replacement cost of the heavily damaged YMCA is estimated at $10 million and $3 million more is the estimated cost for repairs to the 91-year old First United Methodist Church.

Fertilizer Dealer Not Fooled

When two men tried to buy a ton of fertilizer but didn’t seem to know anything about farming, a dealer grew suspicious. The dealer refused to sell them the fertilizer--a component in the bomb that destroyed the federal building. Instead, he called the New Jersey State Police. Ultimately, police caught up with the duo, and found that there weren’t terrorists at all. They were television reporters. They were from the television newsmagazine “American Journal,” doing a story on how easy it is to buy fertilizer and make it into an explosive, said State Police spokesman John Hagerty. “There’s nothing illegal. State Police question its responsibility, but no laws were broken,” he said.

ABOUT THE ATF

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has been at the front in the fight against militias. It is based in Washington but personnel are stationed throughout the country. Before it was established 22 years ago, the Internal Revenue Service was responsible for the activities the ATF now performs. Its areas of enforcement include:

Illegal trafficking of firearms and explosives

Arson-for-profit schemes

Contraband cigarettes

Traffic in illicit alcohol

Collection of revenue due government from legal alcohol, tobacco and firearms sales