OKC Domestic Terrorism Plot

cmhbob · Aug 14, 2017

This was a little unnerving to read today.

A self-proclaimed "3-percenter" first wanted to blow up the Federal Reserve Building in downtown Oklahoma City. He eventually changed his target to a BancFirst building "because he didn't want to kill a bunch of people." He made contact with someone who had a friend who could get him the ammonium nitrate and anhydrous amonia that he needed, then loaded everything in a stolen van and parked it behind BancFirst. Then he drove away and dialed the cellphone that was supposed to detonate everything.

The two guys he'd been in touch with were federal agents.

The bank is about 6-8 blocks from the Oklahoma City National Memorial.

Unreal. Just your average white guy trying to build a VBIED in Hometown, USA.

http://www.koco.com/article/man-arrested-in-plot-to-detonate-vehicle-bomb-in-downtown-okc/12007801

http://newsok.com/sayre-man-arrested-accused-of-trying-to-blow-up-okc-bank/article/5560067

regdog · Aug 14, 2017

Neither news report refer to him as a terrorist. Figures.

Tazlima · Aug 14, 2017

regdog said:
Neither news report refer to him as a terrorist. Figures.

Oh, well. He didn't do it to be a terrorist. He did it "because he was upset with the government."

Obviously it's completely different.

:sarcasm

cmhbob · Aug 14, 2017

The "3%" movement is similar to the Oathkeepers movement, founded on the idea that only 3 percent of the population fought in the Revolution. That's been discounted, but the movement is steill therre.

Lyv · Aug 14, 2017

When a mass shooting or bombing has just happened or is ongoing, I channel and site surf and can tell the exact moment they identify a suspect. Not because a name is released, but because the suspect suddenly becomes either a lone wolf who must have mental health issues or a terrorist. Then I know if the suspect is white or not. It never fails and sadly, I've had far too many chances to test it.

Reading about him and came across this info:

His prior criminal history: "domestic assault and battery by strangulation."

For which he got a deferred sentence. Yep, if you qualify as a lone wolf, you probably are in a demographic llikely to get leniency in the courts. imo.

Splendor · Aug 14, 2017

Glad to hear he was stopped by agents.

Sage · Aug 14, 2017

Yes, some very effective work by the agents!

MaeZe · Aug 14, 2017

regdog said:
Neither news report refer to him as a terrorist. Figures.

From the first link:

The arrest is the culmination of a long-term domestic terrorism investigation involving an undercover operation, during which Varnell had been monitored closely for months as the alleged bomb plot developed, authorities said. The device was actually inert, and the public was not in danger.

The second link skirts the issue but clearly the Three Percenters group he associated with ticks all the worst boxes.

LeftyLucy · Aug 14, 2017

1. I'm so glad he was stopped and no one was hurt.
2. Can you imagine the uproar that would be happening right now if this guy was brown??? My God. But he's white, so all's quiet.

MaeZe · Aug 14, 2017

I think it goes to emphasize the alt-right terror-advocating groups in the US. The news is fixated on anything Islamic when it comes to terror threats. When it comes to these alt-right acts of terror, while covered in the news, the news media treatment and public reaction is just not the same. How was this lone wolf not scary as hell? How many more of them are out there and how many are going to be emboldened by the Trump nightmare?

James D. Macdonald · Aug 16, 2017

regdog said:
Neither news report refer to him as a terrorist. Figures.

That's because his name wasn't "Mohamed."

Same with the guy in Charlottesville: If name != Mohamed then suspect != terrorist.

James D. Macdonald · Aug 16, 2017

MaeZe said:
I think it goes to emphasize the alt-right terror-advocating groups in the US. The news is fixated on anything Islamic when it comes to terror threats.

Well, when the federal government reportedly wants to change the name of the Countering Violent Extremism office to Countering Islamic Extremism, you can see where they get that idea.

Celia Cyanide · Aug 16, 2017

What did this guy want?

cmhbob · Aug 16, 2017

Turns out he may not have wanted to do what he supposedly did.

His family has spoken up.

We as a family are extremely distraught about this situation with our son Jerry Drake Varnell, but what the public must understand is that he is a paranoid schizophrenic and is extremely susceptible to different types of ideology that normal people would deem immoral. Underneath his condition, he is a sweet-hearted person and we are extremely shocked that this event has happened. However, what truly has us flabbergasted is the fact that the FBI knew he was schizophrenic. The State of Oklahoma found him mentally incompetent and we, his parents have legal guardianship over him by the Court. These documents are sealed from the public, which is why no news media outlet has been able to obtain them. The FBI clearly knew that he was schizophrenic because they have gathered every ounce of information on him.

ElaineA · Aug 16, 2017

Ugh. SO SICK of all the white terrorists being declaimed as "sweethearts underneath." JUST, NO.

Frankly, that statement makes the parents sound like the paranoid ones. "The FBI clearly knew that he was schizophrenic because they have gathered every ounce of information on him." Well, thank god for that.

cmhbob · Aug 16, 2017

If the state declared him mentally incompetent, the FBI would have had access to those records. He'd supposedly been under investigation since Dec '16. I find it believable that they'd known about his condition.

blacbird · Aug 16, 2017

regdog said:
Neither news report refer to him as a terrorist.

Neither would the POTUS. Because there's blame on both sides.

caw

OKC Domestic Terrorism Plot

cmhbob

Did...did I do that?

regdog

The Scavengers

Tazlima

cmhbob

Did...did I do that?

Lyv

I meant to do that.

Splendor

Sage

Supreme Guessinator

MaeZe

LeftyLucy

MaeZe

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

Celia Cyanide

Joker Groupie

cmhbob

Did...did I do that?

ElaineA

All about that action, boss.

cmhbob

Did...did I do that?

blacbird