Why did the ATF obtain a search warrant for the Mount Carmel compound?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Waco siege — Branch Davidian Flames engulfing the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas, ending a standoff with federal agents, April 19, 1993.

The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) obtained a search warrant for the Mount Carmel compound because they believed the Branch Davidians were illegally stockpiling weapons.1

This investigation was prompted by reports regarding the group's activities under the leadership of David Koresh, which included allegations of child abuse and the establishment of a retail gun business. Alongside the search warrant for the compound, the ATF also secured an arrest warrant for Koresh.1