Convicted bomber Timothy McVeigh considered his actions a "legit tactic" in a war against what he considered an out-of-control federal government.
He believed he was defending the personal freedom of all Americans and exacting revenge for government raids at Ruby Ridge, Idaho, and Waco, Texas.
The former Army sergeant was executed on June 11, 2001.
See archived stories, documents, photos and video relating to McVeigh's execution.
[ McVeigh Coverage ]
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Originally arrested three days after the bombing as a material witness, Terry Nichols was eventually linked to the planning of the attack.
He was convicted in 1997 of conspiracy and sentenced to life in prison. He was then convicted of 161 counts of murder in a state trial, but was again spared the death penalty in sentencing.
See stories, documents, photos and videos relating to the convicted bombing conspirator.
[ Nichols Coverage ]
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FBI sketch of "John Doe 1" and "John Doe 2"
Defense attorneys for Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols were notified in a letter from the prosecutor that many of the recently turned over FBI reports involved investigations of sightings of John Doe 1 and John Doe 2. Early in the 1995 investigation, agents released sketches worldwide of two men believed to have rented the bomb truck. Agents investigated hundreds of tips to an FBI hot line. Agents eventually concluded John Doe 1 was McVeigh and John Doe 2 never existed.
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Defense attorney Stephen Jones is seen outside of the U.S. Courthouse in Denver, Colo., June 13, 1997 after the jury sentenced Timothy McVeigh to death. AP Photo.
 Photo gallery
 Michael Fortier admitted he knew about the plot beforehand but failed to alert authorities and then lied to FBI agents after the explosion. He pleaded guilty under an agreement with prosecutors to testify against his friends, Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, at trial. All three met in the Army in 1988 and grew to distrust the federal government. Fortier was later sentenced to a 12-year prison term.
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