Friend Says McVeigh Told Him of Blast Plans : Bombing: Army buddy purportedly viewed federal building with suspect before April 19, sources say. While not confirmed, his account of their activities is seen as a major development.

A potentially key witness in the Oklahoma City bombing case has told the FBI that Timothy J. McVeigh discussed blowing up the federal building and that the two men later went there to check out the site, sources close to the investigation said Friday.

Michael Fortier, a close associate of McVeigh’s during their days together in Kingman, Ariz., was scheduled to testify before the federal grand jury in Oklahoma City that is investigating a wider conspiracy into the April 19 terrorist attack.

However, authorities emphasized that they have not yet corroborated Fortier’s account and that questions remain on whether Fortier was telling the truth or trying to protect himself from prosecution.

Fortier, who has been under scrutiny by the FBI in Kingman soon after McVeigh was charged with the bombing, gave authorities his account at least three days ago, one source said.

Source said that if Fortier’s account stands up, he would become the first significant witness to cooperate in the government’s case against McVeigh, 27, and his former Army friend, Terry L. Nichols, 40.

However, the government also could end up seeing Fortier emerge as a third conspirator and charge him in the worst terrorist act on U.S. soil.

But either way, the developments regarding Fortier’s relationship with McVeigh serve as a major break for the government which in recent weeks has appeared stymied in its efforts to identify other conspirators.

Fortier, in his discussions with federal authorities, has denied any direct role in the bombing or its planning, sources said.

“Remember, this has not been verified,” a source close to the case said of Fortier’s version of events.

Nevertheless, Fortier’s statements are considered a positive turn in the investigation, he said.

Another source was more skeptical. “I understand he is cooperating,” the source said. “But beyond that, we’re not sure why yet. My understanding is that they brought him in, and he told them this as if it was something they wanted to hear. It was like he was trying to make a deal or get immunity.”

McVeigh’s first discussion of the plot with Fortier was said to be some months ago, and that both men later went to Oklahoma City together to check out the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.

“I don’t know that they went in there,” one source said. “But he is saying that they went by the Murrah building.”

Shortly after the bombing a month ago, Fortier told reporters that he could not believe McVeigh had anything to do with the bombing. The blast killed 167 people and injured hundreds of others. It is believed to have been a retaliation for the April 19, 1993, siege on the Branch Davidian compound at Waco, Tex., which ended in the fiery death of dozens of adults and children. The siege began after a shootout between agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and cult members in which four agents died.

*

McVeigh and Fortier served in the Army together. They resumed their friendship in Kingman where Fortier helped McVeigh get a job at a hardware store where Fortier was working.

Kingman, where McVeigh lived in the months before the bombing, is regarded by authorities as a planning site for the Oklahoma City bombing. Investigators are continuing to focus much of their attention on McVeigh’s activities there in 1993 and 1994.

Fortier is one of a number of McVeigh’s friends, relatives and associates who have come under intense scrutiny by federal agents since the bombing.

Agents have canvassed virtually the entire city of Kingman in a search for associates of McVeigh who were interested in the militia movement and who espoused anti-government sentiment. They sifted through Fortier’s belongings at his mobile home, from which they removed boxes of items after a five-hour search on May 1, and a storage shed, where they found household items during a 20-minute search two days later.

McVeigh and Fortier were described as best friends by Fortier’s mother, Irene, who said McVeigh was her son’s best man at his wedding.

The Washington Post contributed to this story.