The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, commonly known by its initials ATF, is a United States federal law enforcement agency responsible for investigating the unlawful use, manufacture and possession of firearms and explosives, and acts of arson and bombing. It was established as an independent bureau within the Treasury Department on July 1, 1972, building on predecessor enforcement units dating back to 1886. The agency operates a fire research laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland, where full-scale mock-ups of criminal arson can be reconstructed for forensic study, and maintains roughly 150 Certified Explosives Specialists trained in post-blast investigation and the analysis of improvised explosive devices. ATF investigated the 1993 siege at the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas, and the World Trade Center bombing the same year; Timothy McVeigh later cited the Waco siege as a motivation for the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, which targeted a federal building housing an ATF field office among other agencies.
Facts
Institution TypeSourced to the subject's own accountNational federal law enforcement agency 1 Founded YearSourced to the subject's own account HeadquartersSourced to the subject's own accountWashington, D.C., United States 1 Cross-Tradition Connections
Cases Investigated
ATF, the US Marshals Service, the FBI, the Secret Service and local police provided assistance in the investigation.
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Lead, laboratory and major-investigations sectionsQuote, Lead, laboratory and major-investigations sections
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)...is a federal law enforcement agency responsible for investigating the unlawful use, manufacture, and possession of firearms and explosives; acts of arson and bombings.
1. Wikipedia: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Lead sectionQuote, Lead section
officially established as an independent bureau within the Treasury Department on July 1, 1972
Wikipedia: D.C. Sniper Attacks
Cases Investigated: Beltway Snipers Case, Investigation sectionQuote, Cases Investigated: Beltway Snipers Case, Investigation section
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), US Marshals Service, FBI, the U.S. Secret Service, the Virginia Department of Transportation, and police departments in other jurisdictions where shootings took place provided assistance in the investigation.
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