Recommended

Weather Underground bombing, Puerto Rican nationalists: 5 other times the US Capitol was attacked

1915

Eric Muenter (1871-1915), also rendered Erich Münter, a German professor who, during World War I, planted a bomb in the Senate wing of the Capitol building in Washington, D.C.
Eric Muenter (1871-1915), also rendered Erich Münter, a German professor who, during World War I, planted a bomb in the Senate wing of the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. | Public Domain

Late at night on July 2, 1915, a German-born Harvard professor named Erich Muenter set off an explosive device in the Senate wing of the Capitol building.

Reportedly, the motive for Muenter was the United States' ongoing support of the allies during World War I, despite the country being officially neutral at the time.

Get Our Latest News for FREE

Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know.

“Fortunately [police] found no fatalities — a byproduct of the fact that Congress was not in session and the building was lightly staffed at night. But, there was plenty of carnage and, obviously, great concern about security,” wrote Mark Jones of the history blog Boundary Stones.

Muenter also attempted to murder banker J.P. Morgan Jr. the following day. Soon after being arrested, Muenter killed himself by throwing himself off the top of a jail cell.

Follow Michael Gryboski on Twitter or Facebook

Was this article helpful?

Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone.

By making a recurring donation or a one-time donation of any amount, you're helping to keep CP's articles free and accessible for everyone.

We’re sorry to hear that.

Hope you’ll give us another try and check out some other articles. Return to homepage.

Most Popular

More Articles