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FD-204 (Rev. 3-3-59) QO 9 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION / A), ‘Copy to: e Repost of s: ay fe, BIRMINGHAM, “ALABAMA Field Office File se Birmingham 157-352 Bureev Fite : 257-1025 Title UNKNOWN SUBJECTS, BOMBING OF SIXTEENTH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH . BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, SEPREMERR IFO AGF cow COM AINED HEREIN 1S UNCLASSIFIED Chara = BONDING MARTERS DATES#2-66 BY Synopels: 16th Street Baptist Church (negro) located northwest corner 16th Street and 6th Avenue North, Birmingham, was bombed at about 10:22 AM 9/15/63. 4 teenage girls killed and 16 other ehurch members injured, Investigation instituted imméddiately. The. following projects begun: Crime scene examination, revealed extensive damage to building centering around northeast corner, High order explosive believed used. Crater measured 56 feet wide, 24 feet deep, Window 8111 and foundationm”in crater area demolished, Concrete stairs directly akové crater fragmented, Extensive interior, damage to church Including a large crack in east wall. Numerous windows in church and neighborhood broken, Estimated at. least 10 sticks of dynamite, or the equivalent, used to create this explosion. Damage to church estimated petween twenty to thirty thousand dollars, No material for association with a bomb found in search, No reSidue located by FBI Lab on submitted material from church and surrounding area, Neighborhood investigation has developed several. persons in proximity of explosion and in a position to observe any device Placed, but no individual can recall seeing anything in area or anyone placing anything in area prior to explosion. Church members have advised that they cannot recall any suspicious individuals in vicinity of church prior to explosion. No threats to bomb made immediately prior to explosion. However, threats have previously been made as church has been headquarters for integration demonstrations in Birmingham, Survey of transportation and other facilities serving general area developed no new suspects to date. Numerous sources of dynamite evident in . This document contains neither recommendations not conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and i# loaned to your agency; It and ite contents are not to be distributed outside your agency. . PY