1993 — April 19, FBI & ATF attack Branch Davidian Compound, fire near Waco, TX– 75

—  76  Smith, J. B. “Scholars tackle ‘cult’ questions 20 years after…” Wacotrib.com, 4-13-2013.

—  75  NYT Learning Network. “Feb. 28, 1993. Federal Agents Rain Religious…” 2-28-2012.

–>70  CBS News. “What Really Happened at Waco: Six Years Latter Controversy…” 1-25-2000

—  47  National Fire Protection Association. Key Dates in Fire History. 1996.

 

Narrative Information

 

NYT Learning Network: “After the raid [Feb 28, 1993],[1] the F.B.I. conducted a siege of the compound where more than 90 people remained inside, hoping to force Mr. Koresh into surrendering. F.B.I. negotiators were able to persuade Mr. Koresh to release children from the compound in exchange for broadcasting his messages over the radio; in all, 21 children were released. The F.B.I. determined that the children had been sexually abused and that the remaining children were being abused, though there was little evidence to support this.

 

“As the siege wore on, the F.B.I. became divided over its tactics. Some decided that more aggressive tactics and displays of force were necessary — including the destruction of the Davidians’ cars with F.B.I. tanks and the playing of loud music at night — without first consulting with negotiators, who believed that such tactics undermined their talks.

 

“Ultimately, the F.B.I. leadership decided that it was necessary to end the siege with an assault on the compound. The assault was justified on the grounds that it would prevent further abuse of children and prevent a possible mass suicide. On April 19, F.B.I. tanks knocked holes in the compound’s walls and pumped in tear gas, but the Davidians remained huddled inside. At noon, about six hours into the assault, several fires broke out in the compound, engulfing the building and crushing many of the Davidians inside. Mr. Koresh and 74 other Davidians, including 25 children, were killed.

 

“The F.B.I. came under tremendous criticism for its handling of the siege and assault. A House investigation called Attorney General Janet Reno’s decision to authorize the assault “premature, wrong and highly irresponsible.” The F.B.I. contended that the Davidians started the fires, though in 1999 the organization admitted that there was a chance the F.B.I. was responsible.”

 

Smith: “Their apocalypse came and went on a Monday afternoon, 20 years ago this week. By the time David Koresh and 75 followers met their fiery end on a prairie near Waco on April 19, 1993, the worst possible image of Branch Davidians was branded on the public mind….

 

“Predictions that the Mount Carmel complex would be ‘another Jonestown’ seemed vindicated as the incinerated remains of men, women and children were collected from the rubble of the inferno. Soon after the 51-day federal siege ended, a Newsweek poll found that three-quarters of Americans supported the FBI’s operation, which culminated with tanks piercing compound walls and tear-gassing the inhabitants, including infants and small children….

 

“The ATF in May 1992 began investigating Koresh’s purchases of high-powered firearms and grenades. Among their first contacts in building the case were Branch Davidian defectors such as Marc Breault, who claimed that Koresh would never surrender peacefully and warned of the possibility of mass suicide, according to Wessinger’s 2000 book, “How the Millennium Comes Violently.” Breault was among the first to raise alarms about Koresh, including his claim that all women in the group belonged to him as the chosen Messiah. The ATF began an undercover operation at the compound near Elk and concluded that Koresh was stockpiling illegal weapons there.

 

“On Feb. 28, 1993, 100 ATF agents swarmed the compound in a military-style assault to serve a warrant on weapons violation charges, despite officials’ knowledge that Koresh’s group had been tipped off. The assault turned into a 45-minute firefight that killed four agents and six Branch Davidians.

 

“A 51-day siege followed, under the control of the FBI. In the first several weeks of the siege, FBI negotiators secured the release of 35 people, including 21 children.

 

“But in the meantime, FBI officials on the scene were split in their approach, said Gary Noesner, the FBI’s retired chief negotiator, who oversaw negotiations for the first 26 days…. He complains that tactical officers wanted more aggressive actions against Koresh and did things that undermined Branch Davidian leaders’ trust in the negotiating team, such as using bright lights and loudspeaker noises to inflict anxiety on the group….” (Smith, J. B. “Scholars tackle ‘cult’ questions 20 years after Branch Davidian tragedy.” Wacotrib.com, 4-13-2013.)

 

Sources

 

CBS News. “What Really Happened at Waco: Six Years Latter Controversy Continues.” 1-25-2000. Accessed 4-3-2016 at: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-really-happened-at-waco/

 

National Fire Protection Association. Key Dates in Fire History. 1996, Accessed 2010 at:  http://www.nfpa.org/itemDetail.asp?categoryID=1352&itemID=30955&URL=Research%20&%20Reports/Fire%20statistics/Key%20dates%20in%20fire%20history&cookie%5Ftest=1

 

New York Times, The Learning Network. “Feb. 28, 1993. Federal Agents Rain Religious Sect in Waco.” 2-28-2012. Accessed 4-3-2016 at: http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/28/feb-28-1993-federal-agents-raid-religious-sect-in-waco/?_r=0

 

Smith, J. B. “Scholars tackle ‘cult’ questions 20 years after Branch Davidian tragedy.” Wacotrib.com, 4-13-2013. Accessed 4-3-2016 at: http://www.wacotrib.com/news/religion/scholars-tackle-cult-questions-years-after-branch-davidian-tragedy/article_a3fa463e-d1b4-5eda-b49e-95327bc276d7.html?mode=story

 

 

[1] Four ATF agents and six Davidians killed in gunfight.