BURNS — An unknown number of militia have broken into and are occupying the headquarters building of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge south of here.
A government official speaking on background Saturday said initial reports had the militia entering a building that was closed for the holiday. He said they apparently brought support trailers with them.
Law enforcement officials couldn’t be immediately reached for comment.
Brandon Curtiss, an Idaho militia leader who helped organize a protest parade Saturday, told The Oregonian/OregonLive he knew nothing of the occupation. He said he has been told that Ammon Bundy, the son of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, is one of the occupiers.
“This has nothing to do with us,” said Curtiss, who had been attending a post-parade gathering at the Harney County Fairgrounds with many of the militia members who participated.
The wildlife refuge is about 50 miles southeast of Burns.
Ryan Payne, a U.S. Army veteran from Montana, confirmed that he is among the those occupying the refuge headquarters but refused to provide details. He said additional information will be released to militia media outlets.
Members from Oregon, Idaho and elsewhere had converged on this ranching town in recent weeks to make the federal government the target of their anger.
They came to protest and perhaps even block the imprisonment of Dwight Hammond Jr. and his son Steven, local ranchers convicted of arson.
