In 1995 CBS interviews , prior to any knowledge the bombing of the Oklahoma City Federal Building was perpetrated by Timothy McVeigh , Emerson said " Oklahoma City , I can tell you , is probably considered one of the largest centers of Islamic radical activity outside the Middle East " , and that the bombing " was done with the intent to inflict as many casualties as possible . That is a Middle Eastern trait , and something that has been generally not carried out on this soil until we were rudely awakened to it in 1993 " . He also told viewers not to believe Islamic groups ' denials of their involvement . Emerson has said some critics fail to recite the rest of his statement that references the 1993 World Trade Center attack which was also carried out with a fertilizer truck bomb . Emerson indicated that he was one of many experts interviewed after the bombing who concluded there were similarities between the Oklahoma City bombing and Middle Eastern terrorism . He said the initial reporting did not " tar the entire Muslim community " , that he referred only to a fanatical minority in the Islamic community . He acknowledged there were outbreaks of harassment which he referred to as unfortunate . In response to claims that all Muslims were blamed Emerson said " the charge of racism against Muslims is a canard designed to justify radical Islamic activities in this country . " He supported the media 's decision to report the possible link to Middle East terrorism , saying " There was no doubt " that the FBI and other law enforcement agencies suspected it
bombing of the Oklahoma City Federal Building
Oklahoma City bombing
Steven Emerson