Officials See Risk of Violence, Cult Suicide Pact

Federal authorities on Sunday said that religious cult leader David Koresh has become increasingly reluctant to speak with negotiators and that unless he can be brought back into talks, the risk of another violent confrontation grows--and so does the possibility of a suicide pact.

“We have information that various suicide pacts have been proposed by those inside the compound, principally by Mr. Koresh,” FBI agent Bob Ricks said. “So as he becomes more and more withdrawn and more delusional, we’re very much concerned that he may force his followers to do something that is not rational.”

Officials have been in almost constant telephone contact with Branch Davidian cult members since a Feb. 28 raid--launched to serve arrest and search warrants against Koresh for weapons violations--that touched off a 45-minute firefight. Four federal agents died and 16 were wounded. An unknown number of cult members were also killed.

Negotiators have been trying to lure Koresh and more than 90 cult members--including 17 children--out of their compound and resolve the standoff, which has cost taxpayers $5 million.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms also on Sunday dismissed published reports that federal agents involved in the bloody raid were killed or wounded by fire from other agents as “ridiculous conclusions not based on fact.”

“The assumption of friendly fire is erroneous,” said ATF spokesman David Troy, who based his conclusion on preliminary forensic evidence and interviews with agents who took part in the raid.