Topic: Grenades

The FBI used flashbang grenades to prevent Branch Davidians from collecting rainwater in the courtyard starting April 7, 1993. On Good Friday, April 9, Steve Schneider received permission to light incense canisters, but the FBI simultaneously decided they would not fight any fires that might develop. That same evening, Schneider was targeted with a flashbang grenade while attempting to speak with agents near a tank.

Questions are raised regarding the legal jurisdiction and authority of the ATF to serve a warrant on a church home using military-style force. The narrative suggests potential collusion between the ATF and the media, noting the presence of reporters in trees prior to the assault. Further scrutiny is applied to the use of concussion grenades and the lack of evidence regarding massive return fire from within the building during the initial raid.

A slow-motion breakdown of video footage examines the deployment of grenades into the complex, suggesting that shrapnel from ATF explosives may have injured their own agents. The analysis disputes government claims of Davidian resistance, questioning why injured officers were transported on the hoods of news trucks rather than in ambulances. The segment concludes by questioning the lack of bullet holes in the building's exterior despite reports of heavy gunfire from within.

The discussion reviews the status of various individuals associated with Mount Carmel, including those who left during the 51-day standoff and those arrested while trying to enter the property. Doyle describes how David Koresh and Steve Schneider negotiated the release of 30 people, mostly children, early in the siege. He contrasts this with the increasing hostility of the tactical teams who used barbed wire and flashbang grenades to intimidate those remaining inside.

Excavators at the Mount Carmel site are recovering household items and military debris from rubble piles, including knives, batteries, and fragments of government grenades. The report alleges that federal authorities previously removed topsoil and destroyed a storm shelter where children were killed by a shaped charge. Efforts continue to salvage historical artifacts while a new sanctuary is constructed on the grounds.

Audience members interrogate Agent Littleton, comparing his "just following orders" defense to the Nuremberg trials. They cite specific evidence from the documentary "Waco: The Rules of Engagement," including thermal footage of automatic weapons fire and incendiary devices, while questioning the agent's knowledge of government contingency plans like Rex 84 and FEMA.

Volunteers excavating the Mount Carmel site report finding fragments of government grenades, tear gas rounds, and .50 caliber ammunition. They accuse federal agents of scraping away topsoil and shipping evidence to a landfill to cover up the use of shaped charges against the children's shelter.

The discussion turns to the technical and legal nature of flashbang or stun grenades used during the siege. Host Mike Hanson and the guests reference court testimony where ATF officers admitted these devices are classified as "destructive devices" under federal law. They argue that despite being characterized as benign by some officials, these devices possess significant concussive force and can be lethal.

Excavators at the Waco site report finding household items alongside fragments of government grenades and tear gas rounds. They allege that federal agents scraped away topsoil and removed the storm shelter to hide evidence of a "shape charge" used to kill children. The segment mentions Tommy Cook's website as a hub for sharing information about these findings.

Survivors admit to an initial naivety, believing they would simply sit on the lawn while agents searched the building and then return inside. However, as the siege progressed, any resident who stepped outside was met with aggression. Steve Schneider, David Jones, and Pablo Cohen were reportedly targeted with flashbang grenades during agreed-upon rendezvous or while performing maintenance tasks like digging waste pits.

A witness explains that the Branch Davidians operated a legal gun business to generate income for the community. David Koresh and other members sold firearms at Texas gun shows under a license held by an associate named Henry. The group also sold military surplus items, including MREs and inert grenades marketed as paperweights, asserting their activities were common among American gun enthusiasts.

Volunteers excavating the rubble at Mount Carmel report finding fragments of government grenades, tear gas rounds, and .50 caliber ammunition. They allege that federal authorities scraped away topsoil and shipped evidence to a landfill to cover up the use of shaped charges in the storm shelter. The segment includes a brief interaction with "Grandma Edna," Clive Doyle's mother, who remembers the children who lived at the compound.

Ophelia Santoyo, who lost six family members including her daughter Julie Martinez and five grandchildren, explains that they were too afraid to exit the building during the siege. She cites the destruction of their cars, motorcycles, and children's toys by tanks as the reason for their terror. Santoyo also mentions reports of tactical teams throwing flashbang grenades at people who attempted to communicate with lawyers or the government.