U.S. Rangers Find Waco Evidence

Evidence gathered by the Texas Rangers shows that U.S. Special Forces may have been used
to position explosives at the Branch Davidian church near Waco, Tex.
By Mike Blair

September 10, 1999

An elite U.S. military unit may have been responsible for the placement of special explosives within the Branch Davidian church at Mount Carmel, near Waco, Tex., during an FBI-directed attack on the religious community on April 19, 1993, according to a study by the Texas Rangers.

A 13-page report by Texas law enforcement, dated Sept. 10, reveals that "a 'shaped charge,' may have been placed on the concrete roof of the 'bunker' at the bottom of the tower, and that a bedroll found in the 'bunker,' which was not totally consumed by the fire, may contain trace elements of the explosive compound."

A shaped charge is an explosive that has been expertly crafted and placed in such a manner to achieve maximum damage to the target.

The report also states that video tapes and pictures taken during the assault could be "key in identifying elite military personnel such as Delta Force personnel who were at the scene . . ."

EXPERT BACKS RANGERS

Steve Barry, a 20-year veteran with U.S. Army Special Forces with extensive training with Delta Force members, a top secret Army unit, told The SPOTLIGHT that he is certain that the shaped charge was placed within the compound by Delta Force soldiers.

Barry was a key source who assisted The SPOTLIGHT in preparing the article in last week's edition, which revealed extensive details of the April 19, 1993, Delta Force participation in the attack on the Branch Davidians.

Barry, a top authority on the tactics and history of U.S. Special Operations Command (SOC), said the FBI does not have the expertise to place such a charge.

"Delta Force does," Barry said, "and what I have gleaned from video tapes and other evidence of the 'bunker' area after the attack and resulting fire convinces me that Delta Force was responsible and that destruction of the 'bunker' is consistent with the use of a shaped charge."

FBI and Justice Department officials claim that the explosion was of a propane tank located about three feet from the "bunker. Barry disagrees.

"What they are claiming about the propane tank causing that damage defies the laws of physics," Barry said.

EXPERT WITNESS

Barry, who has provided expert sworn depositions for attorneys representing survivors of the Branch Davidians in a wrongful death suit being brought against the government in federal court in Texas, has pieced together the destruction of the "bunker."

"Those who have seen video tapes of the attack have witnessed a combat engineer vehicle (CEV), which utilizes the chassis of a M-60A2 heavy tank, ramming its way through a wooden wall in the vicinity of the bunker and continuing on directly into the building," Barry said.

There it remained for sufficient time for a Delta Force unit to emerge and place the shaped charge on the "bunker" roof, according to Barry.

As the tank exited the building there were two distinct explosions, one from the shaped charge and the other from the subsequent detonation of the propane tank.

Barry said videos taken inside the "bunker" reveal that the bodies of the Branch Davidians there "were totally pulverized, which is consistent with what a shaped charge, so placed, would do."

*Investigator claims a "shaped charge" detonated killing women and children in concrete room*