Lucky escape for journalists thanks to McVeigh's execution delay

Journalists have had a lucky escape thanks to the postponement of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh's execution.

High winds have knocked over news media trailers outside the federal prison, damaging an area that probably would have been filled with reporters.

The storm, packing 50 mph winds, hail and heavy rain, ripped through the city on Wednesday night - the original date for the execution.

"One of the trailers was completely flattened," said Dan Dunne, spokesman for the US Bureau of Prisons.

"Another trailer is completely upside down and there are others that have tipped, slipping off their blocks. Some have doors open and the furniture's coming out."

News organizations had set up the trailers on the prison grounds to cover McVeigh's execution, which had been scheduled for Wednesday.

It was delayed last week after the FBI disclosed that it failed to turn over thousands of documents to McVeigh's lawyers during the trial over the 1995 bombing of a federal office building during which 168 people died.

After the execution was rescheduled for June 11, most news organizations left their trailers and some equipment in place.

More than 1,300 journalists had been expected in Terre Haute for the execution.