A federal weapons raid outside Waco turned into a 51-day standoff, a deadly fire, and one of the most disputed law enforcement confrontations in modern American history. The 1993 standoff at the Mount Carmel compound near Waco, Texas, involved federal agents and the Branch Davidians, a religious sect led by David Koresh.

Background

The raid erupted into a gun battle that killed four ATF agents and six Branch Davidians. The FBI then took control of the operation, beginning a weeks-long standoff that ended April 19, 1993. The confrontation ended when federal agents launched a tear gas operation. A fire broke out and consumed the compound, killing 76 Branch Davidians, including children.

The episode examines Koresh’s rise inside the Branch Davidians, federal weapons allegations, abuse allegations involving underage girls, and the government’s response to a heavily armed religious group that refused to leave the compound.

More than 30 years later, Waco remains a flashpoint in debates over federal power, religious extremism, gun enforcement, civil liberties, and the use of force against American citizens.

Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.