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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Oregon standoff escalates as FBI surrounds Malheur wildlife refuge – live updates | Oregon standoff escalates as FBI surrounds Malheur wildlife refuge – live updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 5.09am GMT | |
| 05:09 | |
| Occupiers say they will meet FBI at checkpoint at 8am | |
| The tone of the occupiers is becoming more conciliatory. | |
| Sean Anderson tells Seim that the FBI has offered to meet them at a checkpoint at 8am (PST) on Thursday. | |
| He says the four of them have agreed to leave their weapons in their vehicles before approaching the checkpoint. | |
| Both Andersons say they want the media to be present at the checkpoint. | |
| “The world’s going to be watching,” says Seim. “They’re not just going to haul you away into the darkness.” | |
| 5.04am GMT | |
| 05:04 | |
| The occupiers continue to mull over their options. | |
| Sandy Anderson: | |
| I can’t even describe to how wrong it feels to be giving myself into the hands of the enemy. | |
| Gavin Seim: | |
| Don’t – give yourself into the hands of god. | |
| Anderson says if they are arrested, they will lose their rights, including to vote and to own weapons. | |
| 5.01am GMT | |
| 05:01 | |
| What are the charges the four occupiers are facing? Sam Levin explains: | |
| The four holdouts – along with 12 others associated with the standoff who have already been taken into custody – are all facing federal felony charges of conspiracy to impede officers from discharging official duties through the use of force, intimidation or threats. | |
| If convicted, they could face six-year prison sentences, meaning the militia members may end up spending more time behind bars than the two Oregon ranchers whose imprisonment inspired the standoff. | |
| The charge of impeding government officials is a broad allegation that experts say covers many of the illegal actions that have occurred at the federally protected wildlife sanctuary. | |
| The basic contention of federal prosecutors is that protesters’ armed occupation blocked government workers from executing their duties at the refuge. | |
| Prosecutors largely targeted high-profile leaders and militia members and then added the four holdouts to the case in a recent grand jury indictment. | |
| 4.57am GMT | |
| 04:57 | |
| Gavin Seim, hosting the broadcast, tells Sandy Anderson that Ammon Bundy and other arrested militia members have been taken out of solitary confinement. | |
| Anderson doesn’t seem impressed – she says the FBI wants to end the occupation at the refuge so they can add extra charges to those already held, and the four who remain. She says they will never see the light of day again. | |
| Seim says retreat isn’t always the end. | |
| “But we will be prisoners,” says Sandy Anderson. | |
| 4.51am GMT | |
| 04:51 | |
| Analysis: the FBI and outside negotiators | |
| Andrew Gumbel, who has written extensively about the radical far-right, and authored a book about the Oklahoma City bombing, has been listening to the live broadcast between the occupiers and the proxy mediator, assemblywoman Michele Fiore. Here is his analysis: | |
| The Oregon refuge holdouts may believe that federal law officers “are going to push the envelope … because that’s what they do”, but the FBI has a pretty strong record of using outside negotiators to find a peaceful end to armed standoffs with anti-government radicals. | |
| Nevada assemblywoman Michele Fiore follows in a long line of freelance mediators who adopt the voice of reason despite a track record of extreme, if not also inflammatory, public statements. | |
| Fiore’s Christmas card last year attracted international attention because it depicted her entire family packing heat. | |
| On the live feed, Fiore cuts an altogether more conciliatory figure as she can be heard encouraging the holdouts to imagine drinking coffee with her when she arrives and talks through the mechanics of avoiding an escalation and working towards a surrender. | |
| “I need you to stay alive,” she said repeatedly. “I can’t have you dying because I never got to hug you.” | |
| True, no previous mediator’s efforts may have been captured live and heard by up to 60,000 people. But if the mix of anti-government paranoia, anger, semi-coherent historical analysis of the Founders facing the “lawless courts”, talk of dying, and repeated prayer breaks comes across as bizarre, it is far from unprecedented. | |
| With the glaring exception of the 1993 siege outside Waco, Texas, which ended with a horrific fire that killed several dozen members of the Branch Davidian religious sect, the FBI has generally been effective in making a tactical show of strength but holding back on using it while outsiders talk armed militants down from their determination to die for the cause. | |
| In 1985, the Bureau called on a slightly-built former Mennonite preacher to end a siege in Arkansas around the heavily armed militant group, the Covenant, the Sword, and the Arm of the Lord, and arrest the group’s leader, Jim Ellison without a shot being fired. | |
| Rev Robert Millar – who later offered refuge to a string of far-right bankrobbers and murderers at a religious community he ran in eastern Oklahoma – was “dressed as if a pretty widow had invited him to an ice cream social”, according to the head of the FBI’s hostage rescue team, but he got the job done. | |
| Seven years later, in Ruby Ridge, Idaho, it was the far-right activist Bo Gritz who brokered a hard-won peace after a days-long shoot-out in which a US Marshal and two members of the survivalist Weaver family were killed. | |
| In 1996, the most prominent lawyer on the far right, Kirk Lyons, and his sidekick Dave Hollaway worked alongside FBI negotiators to end a long standoffs with the Montana Freemen. Hollaway later said he was grateful that the FBI let reason prevail instead of letting loose its “Sturmabteilung”. | |
| In every case, those under siege were disinclined to trust the feds any further than they could spit. Like Sean and Sandy Anderson, they suspected the FBI of “sneaky tactics” and wanting to kill them all. | |
| It remains to be seen whether the live feed is viewed as a help or a hindrance in bringing the tension to a happy conclusion. | |
| But Fiore certainly sought to turn it to her advantage. “Transparency is your shield, do you understand that?” she said at one point. “Everyone is watching.” | |
| “And God is watching,” Sean Anderson interjected. | |
| “Yes,” she replied. “God is watching.” | |
| 4.43am GMT | |
| 04:43 | |
| Fiore tells the occupiers that she has “gotten word from the FBI” that agents will not make a move on them tonight (Wednesday). | |
| Sean Anderson wants the FBI negotiator – referred to as Mark – to repeat that pledge over a loudspeaker so they can hear it directly. | |
| Fiore says she has been told negotiations will restart 8am Thursday (PST). She wants the occupiers to get some sleep. | |
| We haven’t heard anything from the FBI to confirm this. | |
| 4.35am GMT | |
| 04:35 | |
| After a brief spell when the phone connection was lost, the four occupiers are back in the live broadcast. | |
| They say they are no longer inside the refuge building but are camping in the grounds. | |
| Sean Anderson says they have made “a lot of sacrifices”, going to the bathroom outside and forgoing showers. | |
| He then turns his ire on mental health checks for gun purchase, saying the government – via Obamacare – is going to take firearms away from people who are depressed. | |
| Fiore and the live stream host, activist Gavin Seim, are encouraging this line of discussion. “We need more folk to see this,” Fiore tells them. | |
| 4.28am GMT | 4.28am GMT |
| 04:28 | 04:28 |
| Who is Michele Fiore? | Who is Michele Fiore? |
| Julia Carrie Wong | Julia Carrie Wong |
| Michele Fiore is a Republican Nevada state assemblywoman. Now in her second term, the Brooklyn native is perhaps best known for her adamant support of gun rights and Cliven Bundy’s 2014 standoff with the federal government. | Michele Fiore is a Republican Nevada state assemblywoman. Now in her second term, the Brooklyn native is perhaps best known for her adamant support of gun rights and Cliven Bundy’s 2014 standoff with the federal government. |
| On Monday, Fiore announced that she would travel to Oregon to support Ammon Bundy and the other Malheur occupiers currently under indictment. Fiore had planned to hold a press conference at the law offices of Arnold law firm on Thursday morning where a statement from Ammon Bundy would be read. | On Monday, Fiore announced that she would travel to Oregon to support Ammon Bundy and the other Malheur occupiers currently under indictment. Fiore had planned to hold a press conference at the law offices of Arnold law firm on Thursday morning where a statement from Ammon Bundy would be read. |
| In 2014, Fiore spent time at Cliven Bundy’s Nevada ranch during the family’s standoff with the Bureau of Land Management. Fiore called the militia members who participated in the armed standoff “freedom fighters” and called on members of law enforcement agencies “not to obey your superiors when given a direct order to attack your fellow Americans fighting for the freedoms granted to us by our constitution”. | In 2014, Fiore spent time at Cliven Bundy’s Nevada ranch during the family’s standoff with the Bureau of Land Management. Fiore called the militia members who participated in the armed standoff “freedom fighters” and called on members of law enforcement agencies “not to obey your superiors when given a direct order to attack your fellow Americans fighting for the freedoms granted to us by our constitution”. |
| Fiore drew national attention again last December for her Christmas card, which featured her entire family, including a small child, holding firearms. “It’s up to Americans to protect America. We’re just your ordinary American family,” Fiore wrote in a Facebook post sharing the image. | Fiore drew national attention again last December for her Christmas card, which featured her entire family, including a small child, holding firearms. “It’s up to Americans to protect America. We’re just your ordinary American family,” Fiore wrote in a Facebook post sharing the image. |
| 4.23am GMT | 4.23am GMT |
| 04:23 | 04:23 |
| 4.20am GMT | 4.20am GMT |
| 04:20 | 04:20 |
| Paul Lewis | Paul Lewis |
| The feed of the live phone call is at turns disturbing and downright surreal. There was just a moment of sheer panic when Sean Anderson announced he was going to light an outdoor heater. | The feed of the live phone call is at turns disturbing and downright surreal. There was just a moment of sheer panic when Sean Anderson announced he was going to light an outdoor heater. |
| “I am going to light a propane heater cos we are standing out here freezing cold,” he said. | “I am going to light a propane heater cos we are standing out here freezing cold,” he said. |
| “Don’t do that, don’t do that,” replied Congresswoman Fiore. | “Don’t do that, don’t do that,” replied Congresswoman Fiore. |
| There appeared to be a frantic attempt to communicate with the FBI that the occupiers were on the cusp of lighting their heater, so they didn’t misunderstand what was happening. | There appeared to be a frantic attempt to communicate with the FBI that the occupiers were on the cusp of lighting their heater, so they didn’t misunderstand what was happening. |
| Amid discussions about whether there were flammable materials in the area, and attempts to implore Anderson not to light the heater, he replied: “I am going to go ahead and light this so my wife can be warm. If they shoot them that’s on their fucking ass.” | Amid discussions about whether there were flammable materials in the area, and attempts to implore Anderson not to light the heater, he replied: “I am going to go ahead and light this so my wife can be warm. If they shoot them that’s on their fucking ass.” |
| He lit the heater. | He lit the heater. |
| 4.17am GMT | 4.17am GMT |
| 04:17 | 04:17 |
| The fourth occupier is Jeff Banta – here’s some background on him, courtesy of AP: | The fourth occupier is Jeff Banta – here’s some background on him, courtesy of AP: |
| The 47-year-old has lived in Elko, Nevada, the last several years and worked in construction most of his life, his ex-wife said. | The 47-year-old has lived in Elko, Nevada, the last several years and worked in construction most of his life, his ex-wife said. |
| Banta graduated from Yerington high school in the rural town of Yerington, about 70 miles (113km) southeast of Reno, said Angela Ellington Banta, who still lives there. | Banta graduated from Yerington high school in the rural town of Yerington, about 70 miles (113km) southeast of Reno, said Angela Ellington Banta, who still lives there. |
| His father, Willard Banta, 73, said all of his children grew up hunting and fishing at an early age. | His father, Willard Banta, 73, said all of his children grew up hunting and fishing at an early age. |
| “I had them out in the hills with me as soon as they were old enough to walk and out of diapers,” he said. | “I had them out in the hills with me as soon as they were old enough to walk and out of diapers,” he said. |
| The elder Banta said he had talked to his son “once or twice” since the standoff began but declined to provide details. | The elder Banta said he had talked to his son “once or twice” since the standoff began but declined to provide details. |
| “He just said, ‘I’m all right,”’ Willard Banta said. “I’m wondering if he is going to make it out. I’d like to see my son come home. I hope he does, but I have my doubts.” | “He just said, ‘I’m all right,”’ Willard Banta said. “I’m wondering if he is going to make it out. I’d like to see my son come home. I hope he does, but I have my doubts.” |
| Jeffrey Banta and his ex-wife have two children, the eldest a 23-year-old woman who is married and has a child, living in the Reno area. | Jeffrey Banta and his ex-wife have two children, the eldest a 23-year-old woman who is married and has a child, living in the Reno area. |
| Ellington Banta said she doesn’t really know what her ex-husband has been doing in recent years and doesn’t want to discuss the standoff because she has “two kids who have been really affected by all this”. | Ellington Banta said she doesn’t really know what her ex-husband has been doing in recent years and doesn’t want to discuss the standoff because she has “two kids who have been really affected by all this”. |
| 4.08am GMT | 4.08am GMT |
| 04:08 | 04:08 |
| The charges against the four occupiers | The charges against the four occupiers |
| The four people still inside the refuge – David Fry, Jeff Banta, and husband-and-wife Sean and Sandy Anderson – were all named in a federal indictment last week. | The four people still inside the refuge – David Fry, Jeff Banta, and husband-and-wife Sean and Sandy Anderson – were all named in a federal indictment last week. |
| They – along with Ammon Bundy and others tied to the armed standoff – face federal conspiracy charges over their alleged use of “force, intimidation, and threats” against government officials, according to the indictment. | They – along with Ammon Bundy and others tied to the armed standoff – face federal conspiracy charges over their alleged use of “force, intimidation, and threats” against government officials, according to the indictment. |
| A federal grand jury has accused Bundy and the other militia members of preventing US Fish and Wildlife Service officers from discharging their official duties at the Malheur national wildlife refuge since 2 January. | A federal grand jury has accused Bundy and the other militia members of preventing US Fish and Wildlife Service officers from discharging their official duties at the Malheur national wildlife refuge since 2 January. |
| The four remaining occupiers have said they refuse to leave unless they have assurances they would not face charges. | The four remaining occupiers have said they refuse to leave unless they have assurances they would not face charges. |
| 4.02am GMT | 4.02am GMT |
| 04:02 | 04:02 |
| More vehicles are approaching the refuge, the occupiers are saying. | More vehicles are approaching the refuge, the occupiers are saying. |
| They broke through our barricades, they object. | They broke through our barricades, they object. |
| 3.59am GMT | 3.59am GMT |
| 03:59 | 03:59 |
| Fiore: 'I'm not asking you to give up' | Fiore: 'I'm not asking you to give up' |
| Fiore – who appears to be acting as a curious mixture of negotiator and cheerleader – tells the occupiers that they are engaged in a battle to take America back. | Fiore – who appears to be acting as a curious mixture of negotiator and cheerleader – tells the occupiers that they are engaged in a battle to take America back. |
| She is being driven to the refuge now, in a journey expected to take around four hours. | She is being driven to the refuge now, in a journey expected to take around four hours. |
| Fiore says her cellphone signal might drop as they drive through mountains, but says the FBI will not act while the signal is down (we don’t have confirmation of that alleged agreement from the FBI). | Fiore says her cellphone signal might drop as they drive through mountains, but says the FBI will not act while the signal is down (we don’t have confirmation of that alleged agreement from the FBI). |
| “In order to stay alive, I have to submit and be a slave,” Sean Anderson shouts. He compares himself to Braveheart. | “In order to stay alive, I have to submit and be a slave,” Sean Anderson shouts. He compares himself to Braveheart. |
| “I’m not asking you to give up,” Fiore tells him. | “I’m not asking you to give up,” Fiore tells him. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.59am GMT | at 3.59am GMT |
| 3.50am GMT | 3.50am GMT |
| 03:50 | 03:50 |
| Associated Press has further background information on two of the occupiers, husband and wife Sean and Sandy Anderson: | Associated Press has further background information on two of the occupiers, husband and wife Sean and Sandy Anderson: |
| The husband and wife moved from the town of Janesville, Wisconsin, within the last several years to Riggins, Idaho, where Sean, 47, opened a store for hunting, tactical and survival gear. Sandy, 48, worked at a gas station. | The husband and wife moved from the town of Janesville, Wisconsin, within the last several years to Riggins, Idaho, where Sean, 47, opened a store for hunting, tactical and survival gear. Sandy, 48, worked at a gas station. |
| Idaho County, where they live, and Harney County, 290 miles away where the refuge is located, are similar in many ways. Both have large portions of land managed by federal agencies and populations chafing at restrictions put on that land. | Idaho County, where they live, and Harney County, 290 miles away where the refuge is located, are similar in many ways. Both have large portions of land managed by federal agencies and populations chafing at restrictions put on that land. |
| Idaho county sheriff Doug Giddings said the Andersons are good residents, though he didn’t know as much about Sean as he did about Sandy. | Idaho county sheriff Doug Giddings said the Andersons are good residents, though he didn’t know as much about Sean as he did about Sandy. |
| “She’s a good person, she’s just upset with the government,” he told Oregon Public Broadcasting. | “She’s a good person, she’s just upset with the government,” he told Oregon Public Broadcasting. |
| Sean Anderson is facing misdemeanor charges in Wisconsin for resisting an officer, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of THC, the intoxicating chemical in marijuana. | Sean Anderson is facing misdemeanor charges in Wisconsin for resisting an officer, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of THC, the intoxicating chemical in marijuana. |
| He also has pleaded guilty to a series of misdemeanors in recent years: domestic abuse in December 2010, disorderly conduct in 2008, criminal trespass in a dwelling in 2002, and disorderly conduct in 1999. | He also has pleaded guilty to a series of misdemeanors in recent years: domestic abuse in December 2010, disorderly conduct in 2008, criminal trespass in a dwelling in 2002, and disorderly conduct in 1999. |
| A friend of the couple, Lindsey Dipo, told the Lewiston Tribune newspaper that the couple recorded their will on Dipo’s cellphone before departing for Oregon. | A friend of the couple, Lindsey Dipo, told the Lewiston Tribune newspaper that the couple recorded their will on Dipo’s cellphone before departing for Oregon. |
| 3.46am GMT | 3.46am GMT |
| 03:46 | 03:46 |
| The occupiers – and Fiore on the other end of the phone line – break off frequently to pray. | The occupiers – and Fiore on the other end of the phone line – break off frequently to pray. |
| Sandy Anderson is angered because she says the FBI negotiators interrupted one prayer session. | Sandy Anderson is angered because she says the FBI negotiators interrupted one prayer session. |
| Fiore says this is good – it shows the FBI is listening to the broadcast and they know what is happening. | Fiore says this is good – it shows the FBI is listening to the broadcast and they know what is happening. |
| 3.43am GMT | 3.43am GMT |
| 03:43 | 03:43 |
| “If they won’t give us one more day … we’re just going to stay here and fucking die,” Sean Anderson says. | “If they won’t give us one more day … we’re just going to stay here and fucking die,” Sean Anderson says. |
| 3.39am GMT | 3.39am GMT |
| 03:39 | 03:39 |
| Cliven Bundy on his way to the refuge | Cliven Bundy on his way to the refuge |
| Cliven Bundy has confirmed in a phone interview with the Guardian just now that he is on his way to the refuge. | Cliven Bundy has confirmed in a phone interview with the Guardian just now that he is on his way to the refuge. |
| “I hope I save some lives, for one thing,” he said. | “I hope I save some lives, for one thing,” he said. |
| The elder Bundy said he decided to go to Harney County after he saw the FBI was closing in on the occupiers: | The elder Bundy said he decided to go to Harney County after he saw the FBI was closing in on the occupiers: |
| I guess if they wanted to murder somebody tonight, that’d be a good way to do it. | I guess if they wanted to murder somebody tonight, that’d be a good way to do it. |
| I don’t know whether I’ll be a negotiator or maybe a demander. I think we oughta take this country back and I think it’s time the feds get out of there. | I don’t know whether I’ll be a negotiator or maybe a demander. I think we oughta take this country back and I think it’s time the feds get out of there. |
| Bundy said he has not heard from law enforcement: | Bundy said he has not heard from law enforcement: |
| I’m not really talking to the FBI. As far as I’m concerned, they have no jurisdiction or authority there. | I’m not really talking to the FBI. As far as I’m concerned, they have no jurisdiction or authority there. |
| Bundy declined to say if anyone else was with him or how long it would take him to get there. | Bundy declined to say if anyone else was with him or how long it would take him to get there. |
| 3.35am GMT | 3.35am GMT |
| 03:35 | 03:35 |
| Sean Anderson says he wants assurances that the four occupiers won’t face prosecution. | Sean Anderson says he wants assurances that the four occupiers won’t face prosecution. |
| “They can drop charges, they do it all the time – for people who are way worse than we are,” he told Fiore. | “They can drop charges, they do it all the time – for people who are way worse than we are,” he told Fiore. |
| The occupiers are also telling the assemblywoman that Franklin Graham, a reverend from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, is in discussions with them. The occupiers said the FBI may consider letting them walk out at 7am Thursday morning with Graham. | The occupiers are also telling the assemblywoman that Franklin Graham, a reverend from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, is in discussions with them. The occupiers said the FBI may consider letting them walk out at 7am Thursday morning with Graham. |
| But Sean Anderson said he wasn’t confident they would get out alive: “How can we trust what they are saying?” | But Sean Anderson said he wasn’t confident they would get out alive: “How can we trust what they are saying?” |
| 3.32am GMT | 3.32am GMT |
| 03:32 | 03:32 |
| Sean Anderson, one of the occupiers, has just announced what he calls their “concession” – that the four of them will leave the refuge in daylight on Thursday if they are allowed to be accompanied by Congresswoman Fiore and Christian evangelist Franklin Graham. | Sean Anderson, one of the occupiers, has just announced what he calls their “concession” – that the four of them will leave the refuge in daylight on Thursday if they are allowed to be accompanied by Congresswoman Fiore and Christian evangelist Franklin Graham. |
| He says the FBI must now offer its own concession in return. | He says the FBI must now offer its own concession in return. |
| 3.30am GMT | 3.30am GMT |
| 03:30 | 03:30 |
| According to a Facebook page associated with the militia, Cliven Bundy – father of Ammon Bundy and himself involved in an earlier standoff with officials – is on his way to the site of the siege. | According to a Facebook page associated with the militia, Cliven Bundy – father of Ammon Bundy and himself involved in an earlier standoff with officials – is on his way to the site of the siege. |
| However, the FBI has reportedly told the four occupiers that nobody will be able to enter the property. | However, the FBI has reportedly told the four occupiers that nobody will be able to enter the property. |
| 3.26am GMT | 3.26am GMT |
| 03:26 | 03:26 |
| Helicopters heard over the refuge | Helicopters heard over the refuge |
| Paul Lewis | Paul Lewis |
| The live broadcast just captured the moment the occupiers heard helicopters above the refuge. | The live broadcast just captured the moment the occupiers heard helicopters above the refuge. |
| “The black hawks are here and they’re going to kill us,” said one voice, which appeared to be David Fry, the most agitated of the occupiers. | “The black hawks are here and they’re going to kill us,” said one voice, which appeared to be David Fry, the most agitated of the occupiers. |
| He added moments later: “If they fire first, my weapon is in reach and I’m going to take them with me.” | He added moments later: “If they fire first, my weapon is in reach and I’m going to take them with me.” |
| Gavin Seim, the rightwing activist who is running the Youtube broadcast, led a group prayer for those inside, and assured them that leader Ammon Bundy, who in prison, has been taken out of solitary confinement. | Gavin Seim, the rightwing activist who is running the Youtube broadcast, led a group prayer for those inside, and assured them that leader Ammon Bundy, who in prison, has been taken out of solitary confinement. |
| Assemblywoman Michele Fiore – who is also on the line, acting as a mediator – is also encouraging the remaining occupiers to remain calm. “I need you to stay alive. The only way we’re going to be able to write your story and write your book is if you stay alive.” | Assemblywoman Michele Fiore – who is also on the line, acting as a mediator – is also encouraging the remaining occupiers to remain calm. “I need you to stay alive. The only way we’re going to be able to write your story and write your book is if you stay alive.” |
| The occupiers appear to have a separate line to the FBI, and are relaying that they’ve been told no one will be allowed on to the refuge until they leave. | The occupiers appear to have a separate line to the FBI, and are relaying that they’ve been told no one will be allowed on to the refuge until they leave. |
| “They want us to leave. They said the time for concessions has passed,” Sandy Anderson said. | “They want us to leave. They said the time for concessions has passed,” Sandy Anderson said. |
| The details are sketchy, and the audio in parts inaudible, but it appears that one proposal is for a local figure, possibly a reverend, to join the occupiers and lead them off the site. | The details are sketchy, and the audio in parts inaudible, but it appears that one proposal is for a local figure, possibly a reverend, to join the occupiers and lead them off the site. |
| 3.17am GMT | 3.17am GMT |
| 03:17 | 03:17 |
| David Fry, the 27-year-old occupier from Ohio, has become increasingly agitated on the live stream, shouting at Fiore and his fellow protesters. | David Fry, the 27-year-old occupier from Ohio, has become increasingly agitated on the live stream, shouting at Fiore and his fellow protesters. |
| Fry made headlines when he posted video of himself using government computers to create a website for the occupation. | Fry made headlines when he posted video of himself using government computers to create a website for the occupation. |
| According to a recent profile of Fry by Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), his antics led many in the militia to grow frustrated with him, with some wanting him to leave. | According to a recent profile of Fry by Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), his antics led many in the militia to grow frustrated with him, with some wanting him to leave. |
| Fry had previously communicated with militia spokesman LaVoy Finicum online, and Finicum had reportedly encouraged the young occupier to stay. | Fry had previously communicated with militia spokesman LaVoy Finicum online, and Finicum had reportedly encouraged the young occupier to stay. |
| Fry’s family told the radio station that he has frequently had problems with authorities. | Fry’s family told the radio station that he has frequently had problems with authorities. |
| “He’s had his problems, some of which he’s brought on himself,” his grandfather, William Fry, told OPB. | “He’s had his problems, some of which he’s brought on himself,” his grandfather, William Fry, told OPB. |
| “He gets pulled over for busted tail-lights, and instead of just rolling down his window and handing over his insurance, he screams at the officer: ‘What the [expletive] do you want?’ And right there, a regular thing turns into him in handcuffs.” | “He gets pulled over for busted tail-lights, and instead of just rolling down his window and handing over his insurance, he screams at the officer: ‘What the [expletive] do you want?’ And right there, a regular thing turns into him in handcuffs.” |
| Fry also often writes about conspiracy theories online. | Fry also often writes about conspiracy theories online. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.18am GMT | at 3.18am GMT |
| 3.13am GMT | 3.13am GMT |
| 03:13 | 03:13 |
| The occupation at Malheur started on 2 January in response to the conviction of two local ranchers on arson charges. Our explainer has more on the background to the 40-day standoff: | The occupation at Malheur started on 2 January in response to the conviction of two local ranchers on arson charges. Our explainer has more on the background to the 40-day standoff: |
| Related: Oregon militia explainer: background to the standoff | Related: Oregon militia explainer: background to the standoff |