BURNS, Ore. (AP) — The FBI says it has moved to contain the last few occupiers of an Oregon wildlife refuge.
In a statement Wednesday evening, authorities said they placed agents at barricades both immediately ahead of and behind the area where the occupiers were camping. An acquaintance of occupier David Fry was livestreaming on YouTube what he said was an open phone line from the standoff. The occupiers said they were surrounded by armored vehicles. They can be heard arguing with someone they said was a negotiator.
The four holdouts were the last remnants of an armed group that seized the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge on Jan. 2 to oppose federal land-use policies.
Greg Bretzing, special agent in charge of the FBI in Oregon, said in a statement the situation had reached a point where it “became necessary to take action” to ensure the safety of all involved.
The four remained despite the arrests of group leader Ammon Bundy and others Jan. 26 on a remote road outside the refuge.
