The Sunset Limited Attack - Paper Example

Introduction

The sunset limited attack has been one of the most significant attacks that have left Arizona devastated for many years. The attack occurred on an early morning of October 1995. The train that was involved, Amtrak's sunset limited passenger train, was traveling through the Arizona desert on its way to California when it hit a section of loose track. The four cars of the train are reported to have fishtailed off the track. The accident left many people severely injured. Even though the FBI and the local police have been involved in a serious investigation, no one has been found to be guilty of the incident. Based on the analysis of the inquiry, the Sunset limited attack can be said to be a terrorist attack on the United States.

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It was reported that the Amtrak train was sabotaged because the experts found nothing wrong with the systems. Most of the news sources showed that there was evidence of sabotage. For example, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (2005) report s that despite being a devastating incident, the attack on passenger train has never established a concrete case against the suspects. The sunset limited attack claimed a life of one operator and left many others devastated. Mydans (1995) provides a historical context of the incident. According to the author, the Amtrak train was carrying 268 people by the time it was involved in accident. One crew member died instantly, and about 100 people were injured, though not severely as per the official reports (Mydans, 1995). Kiefer (1998) also provide the context of the incident citing that the accident occurred half-past midnight on October 9, 1995. By first light, about 80 people were found with injuries and one person dead.

Most reports show that the incident was planned or pre-meditated act of terrorism. Kiefer (1998) explains that the track of the train had been sabotaged. He reports that 29 spikes pulled out, which left the rails spread apart. Even though they were set apart, the railroads were still joined together using a jumper wire to prevent detection by the train officials (Kiefer, 1998). The same sentiments are reported by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen report (2005), which also explains that the culprits pulled 29 spikes that held the rail together. And instead, they used the jumper cables to connect the tracks back together to avoid detection. The same sentiments are explained by D'Angelo, an azcentral reporter, citing that the sabotage of the Amtrak train must have been planned.

Despite investigations carried out for more than ten years now, the authorities are unable to show serious progress with the case. A lot of resources have been invested in the case. For example, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (2005) reports that tipsters were offered about $320,000 reward. D'Angelo (2015) explains that the government, through the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), has spent over $300 thousand as a reward to anyone who may have information regarding the sunset limited attack after two decades. Wang (2015), an azcentral report also reports that the sunset limited attack remains the most enduring unresolved mysteries that have left many Americans devastated. Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (2005), in their report, says that after the incident, about 125 FBI agents were assigned to the case to look into the matter. Over 20 years later now, there is still nothing concrete to bring those responsible to book.

Despite that, there have been numerous setbacks to the case, but evidence shows that there is somewhere that the authorities can begin to look into the matter and provide closure to those who were affected by the incident. Different sources have claimed that the authorities who reported at the location of incident found letters from the presumed perpetrators of the attack. Wang (2015) explains that the rumors started that the sabotage may have been caused by a small militia group called "the sons of Gestapo." Despite the promise by the government authorities to take the investigation as far as it could take, nothing has been shown to indicate their progress. Mydans (1995) reported one of the FBI agents assigned to the case, Larry McCormick, who said that the agency will take the investigation wherever it goes. It seems that the government was very motivated to find the culprits during the early days of the incident because perhaps it was still fresh in the minds or the public. Mydans (1995) reports how the local authorities in Arizona took the case seriously. For example, the Sheriff of Maricopa County, Joe Arpaio by then said to have taken two men linked with the crash into custody but later released them with the claim that they were only curious to what was happening. Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (2005) also reported the efforts undertaken by the government agencies by then to try to bring light into the case. According to their report, the FBI received hundreds of tips, which all turned out to be dead ends. The agency even started searching houses and barns for typewriters, tires and railroad tools, through the psychological profile in attempt to establish a concrete case on the issue (Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, 2005). However, all these efforts only worked in the first years, but later become futile. The authorities appeared to agree on one thing though; that the incident was no accident. As Mark Leff, a CNN correspondent from Arizona reports, the devastating incident came after daylight when the authorities determined that the derailment in Trestle was not an accident (Leff, 1995).

The incident in Arizona was a terrorist attack because it happened at the time that terrorism was increasingly becomes a significant challenge to many cities in the United States. As Maricopa County Sheriff, Joe Arpaio claimed, the incident happened at the time the country was dealing with the Oklahoma City problem and the New York City. Following these recent incidences, the Sheriff concluded that the sunset limited attack was not a coincidence or mere accident.

Based on this analysis, I would say that the suspects for the sunset limited attack were domestic terrorists like the "Sons of Gestapo" who claimed to have carried out the attack. Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (2005) explains that the perpetrators left some notes or letters claiming responsibility. However, despite that the accident left over 100 people injured and one person dead, the FBI may have done enough to bring the culprits to book. Sources have shown the shortcomings and weaknesses of the agency in this case.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the culprits for the Amtrak train attack may not have been brought to book even two decades after the incident, but it the attack must have increased the security awareness of the government. The FBI and other relevant authorities have improved their strategies to deal with the domestic terrorism. Based on the FBI evidence and other news sources in this essay, I would say that the suspects were the group that had already claimed responsibility, the "Sons of Gestapo" because there is no any other lead so far.

References

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. (October 10, 2005). "Fatal Amtrak Sabotage in Arizona Still Unresolved." Blet.org. Retrieved from https://www.ble-Blt.org/pr/news/headline.asp?id=14688

D'Angelo, N. A. (April 6, 2015). "FBI offers $300K Reward 20 years After Arizona Train Derails." AzCentral. Retrieved from https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2015/04/06/fbi-arizona-train-derailment-abrk/25372511/

Kiefer, M. (August 28, 1998). ""Trainspotting." Phoenix New Times. Retrieved from https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/trainspotting-6421882

Leff, M. (October 9, 1995). "Sabotage Suspected in Amtrak Derailment." CNN. Retrieved from http://edition.cnn.com/US/9510/amtrak/10pm/index.html

Mydans, S. (1995). "Sabotage Derails Arizona Train; One is Killed and 100 are Hurt." The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/10/us/sabotage-derails-arizona-train-one-is-killed-and-100-are-hurt.html

Wang, B. A. (October 10, 2015). "Unresolved Arizona Mystery: Who derailed the Sunset Limited?" AzCentral. Retrieved from https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/best-reads/2015/10/10/amtrak-train-derailment-sunset-limited-arizona-1995/73604602/