MOVE bombing rocked Philadelphia in 1985

News

25th anniversary of MOVE bombing

In this May 14, 1985 file photo, a neighborhood in Philadelphia where the house of the militant group MOVE was located smolders. The fire started when police dropped a bomb onto MOVE's house, and it spread throughout the area.

Scores of row houses burned in a fire in the west Philadelphia neighborhood.

Connie Renfrow and her husband Gerald Renfrow pose for a photograph on the street near their Osage Avenue home in Philadelphia. Their house was one of scores rebuilt after police dropped a bomb on the block in 1985 in an attempt to arrest members of the militant group MOVE.

Milton Williams poses for a photograph in the back ally near his Osage Avenue home in Philadelphia with a salvaged number plate from his original house. Williams' house was one of scores of rebuilt after police dropped a bomb on the block in 1985 in an attempt to arrest members of the militant group MOVE.

In this March 22, 1986 file photo, Gloria Tobois, left, carries possessions into her rebuilt Pine Street home followed by neighbor John Devore and husband Sanley Tobois, right, in Philadelphia. The families were the first to move back to their neighborhood after their houses and scores of others were rebuilt when police dropped a bomb on the neighborhood in 1985 in an attempt to arrest members of the group MOVE.

In this undated file photo, a member of MOVE pulls a can to the roof of their building in Philadelphia. Police dropped a bomb on the house in May 13, 1985 in an attempt to arrest members of the militant group, leading to the burring of scores of homes in the neighborhood.

Gerald Renfrow pose for a photograph in front of a house where a police detail was based on Osage Avenue in Philadelphia in 1985.

A Philadelphia policeman is seen on a rooftop as flames rise from a row of burning homes beyond, in Philadelphia. The fire started when police dropped a bomb onto the house of the militant group MOVE.

1/8

In this May 14, 1985 file photo, a neighborhood in Philadelphia where the house of the militant group MOVE was located smolders. The fire started when police dropped a bomb onto MOVE's house, and it spread throughout the area.

Today's Gallery Headlines

Photos: North Paulding girls defeat Grayson for a 6A basketball state championship

Photos: Wheeler defeats Pebblebook to claim 2026 state championship

The crowd in front of Fadó Irish Pub cheers as the Atlanta St. Patrick’s Parade makes its way down Peachtree Street on Saturday, March 14, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

PHOTOS: 2026 St. Patrick’s Parade in Midtown Atlanta

Photos: Alexander defeats Woodward Academy for the 5A boys state championship

More Galleries

PHOTOS: Civil rights icon Jesse Jackson found stage and home in Atlanta

Georgia students organize protests against ICE after Minnesota killings

PHOTOS: Snellville's Brookwood High School students rally and march against ICE

PHOTOS: Scenes from icy winter storm in Metro Atlanta

As storm inches closer to Georgia, metro Atlanta braces for ice threat

Alerts