Latest news with #Davidians
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Deseret News archives: Texas, Oklahoma tragedies revealed tensions in the U.S.
A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives. On April 19, 1993, the 51-day siege at the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas, ended as the Davidians set fire to their compound following an FBI tear gas attack. Seventy-five people, including 25 children and sect leader David Koresh, were killed. Exactly two years later, in 1995, Timothy McVeigh, seeking to strike at the government he blamed for the Branch Davidian deaths two years earlier, destroyed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people. McVeigh was convicted of federal murder charges and executed in 2001. In both cases, those involved in the incidents felt government agencies were intruding in their personal lives. And just like that, in the space of 730 days, Americans were reminded that terror can come in unlikely places and lead to harsh conclusions. Some historians also note that the American Revolutionary War began with the Battles of Lexington and Concord — the start of an eight-year armed conflict between American colonists and the British Army — on April 19, 1975. On Feb. 28, 1993, a gun battle erupted at a religious compound near Waco, Texas, when Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents tried to arrest Branch Davidian leader David Koresh on weapons charges; four agents and six Davidians were killed as a 51-day standoff began. The siege boiled over on April 19, as the compound burned to the ground after FBI agents in an armored vehicle smashed the buildings and pumped in tear gas. The Justice Department said cult members set the fire. Here are stories from Deseret News archives about the Waco incident: 'Lesson from Waco: Religion matters when dealing with the nonconventional' 'Waco documentary indicates agents fired at trapped cult members' 'Cult leader? 'Sinful Messiah'? 25 years later, interest in David Koresh still strong' 'FBI's lies, siege at Waco unjustified' On April 19, 1995, a date purposely chosen, American Timothy McVeigh detonated explosives planted in a truck outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. He plotted the attack with two fellow Army veterans who shared his anti-government views, Terry Nichols and Michael Fortier. The Oklahoma City Bombing killed 168 people, including 19 children, and wounded hundreds more, in the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history to that date. Before he was executed in 2001, McVeigh made it clear that he intended the bombing as retribution for the deaths at Waco and the Ruby Ridge standoff in northern Idaho in 1992, and had deliberately planned the bombing to take place on the second anniversary of the Waco disaster. Here are stories from Deseret News archives related to the Oklahoma City bombing: 'We've taken notice, but will we learn?' 'FBI explanation of missing Oklahoma City bombing tapes not credible, judge says' 'Impact of '95 Oklahoma City bombing still felt' 'Judge talks of surviving 1995 blast and 9/11″ 'Nichols says bombing was FBI op'
Chicago Tribune
28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Today in History: Waco Siege begins
Today is Friday, Feb. 28, the 59th day of 2025. There are 306 days left in the year. Today in history: On Feb. 28, 1993, a gun battle erupted at a religious compound near Waco, Texas, when Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents tried to arrest Branch Davidian leader David Koresh on weapons charges; four agents and six Davidians were killed as a 51-day standoff began. Also on this date: In 1844, a 12-inch gun aboard the USS Princeton exploded as the ship was sailing on the Potomac River, killing Secretary of State Abel P. Upshur, Navy Secretary Thomas W. Gilmer and several others; President John Tyler, who also was aboard the ship, was uninjured. In 1953, Francis H.C. Crick announced that he and fellow scientist James D. Watson had discovered the double-helix structure of DNA. In 1975, 43 people were killed in London's Underground when a train failed to stop at Moorgate station, smashing into the end of a tunnel. In 1983, the final episode of the television series 'M*A*S*H' aired; nearly 106 million viewers saw the finale, which remains the most-watched episode of any U.S. television series to date. In 1986, Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme was assassinated while walking on a Stockholm street with his wife; his assailant was never captured and remains unidentified. In 2013, Benedict XVI became the first pope in 600 years to resign, ending an eight-year pontificate. (Benedict was succeeded the following month by Pope Francis.) In 2014, delivering a blunt warning to Moscow, President Barack Obama expressed deep concern over reported military activity inside Ukraine by Russia and warned 'there will be costs' for any intervention. Today's birthdays: Architect Frank Gehry is 96. Rock singer Sam the Sham (aka Domingo Samudio) is 88. Actor-director-choreographer Tommy Tune is 86. Hall of Fame auto racer Mario Andretti is 85. Actor Mercedes Ruehl is 77. Actor-singer Bernadette Peters is 77. Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman is 72. Basketball Hall of Famer Adrian Dantley is 70. Actor John Turturro is 68. Actor Maxine Bahns is 55. Actor Robert Sean Leonard is 56. Musician Pat Monahan (Train) is 56. Actor Tasha Smith is 54. Hockey Hall of Famer Eric Lindros is 52. Actor Ali Larter is 49. Country musician Jason Aldean is 48. NBA guard Luka Dončić is 26
Boston Globe
28-02-2025
- Science
- Boston Globe
Today in History: February 28, the Waco Siege begins
In 1953, Francis H.C. Crick announced that he and fellow scientist James D. Watson had discovered the double-helix structure of DNA. Advertisement In 1956, a commuter train barreling down the tracks at 50 miles per hour slammed into a stopped train from Portsmouth, N.H., near the Swampscott Station, killing 13 people and injuring more than 100 amid a nor'easter. In 1975, 43 people were killed in London's Underground when a train failed to stop at Moorgate station, smashing into the end of a tunnel. In 1983, the final episode of the television series 'M.A.S.H.' aired; nearly 106 million viewers saw the finale, which remains the most-watched episode of any US television series to date. In 1986, Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme was assassinated while walking on a Stockholm street with his wife; his assailant was never captured and remains unidentified. In 1993, a gun battle erupted at a religious compound near Waco, Texas, when Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms agents tried to arrest Branch Davidian leader David Koresh on weapons charges; four agents and six Davidians were killed as a 51-day standoff began. In 2013, Benedict XVI became the first pope in 600 years to resign, ending an eight-year pontificate. (Benedict was succeeded the following month by Pope Francis.) Advertisement In 2014, delivering a blunt warning to Moscow, President Obama expressed deep concern over reported military activity inside Ukraine by Russia and warned 'there will be costs' for any intervention.
