Basic Facts
In which U.S. city did the MOVE bombing take place?
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
On what street was the MOVE house located?
6221 Osage Avenue
What specific type of explosives were used in the "satchel bomb"?
A combination of FBI-supplied C-4 and Tovex, a dynamite substitute.
What was the name of the official commission appointed to investigate the event?
The MOVE Commission (officially the Philadelphia Special Investigation Commission).
What was the exact date of the bombing
May 13, 1985
What was the primary delivery method for the bomb?
State police helicopter
Who were the only two survivors to make it out of the burning house?
Ramona Africa (adult) and Birdie Africa (a 13-year-old child)
What term did the 1986 commission report use to describe the act of dropping the bomb?
It called the act "unconscionable" and the leadership "grossly negligent".
What was the name of the group targeted by the police?
MOVE
How many homes in the surrounding neighborhood were destroyed by the resulting fire?
61
What was the police's stated "tactical objective" for dropping the bomb?
To destroy a fortified rooftop bunker so they could use tear gas to flush out the occupants.
How many city officials or police officers were criminally charged for the deaths or destruction?
None
How many people died in the house that day?
11 people (6 adults and 5 children).
How many people were left homeless because of the fire?
250 people
Approximately how many rounds of ammunition did police fire during the standoff?
10,000 rounds
For what charges was survivor Ramona Africa convicted after the event?
Riot and conspiracy, for which she served seven years in prison.
Who was the Mayor of Philadelphia at the time
W. Wilson Goode Sr., the city's first African American mayor
Who was the founder of MOVE who died in the bombing?
John Africa
What controversial order was given regarding the fire after the bomb detonated?
Authorities ordered firefighters to "let the fire burn" for a period to destroy the bunker.
What controversy surfaced in 2021 regarding the victims' remains?
It was discovered that remains of two child victims had been kept at the University of Pennsylvania and Princeton University for decades without the family’s permission.