Last occupiers of Oregon wildlife refuge surrender to FBI

Surrounded by FBI agents in armored vehicles, the last four occupiers of a national nature preserve surrendered Thursday, and a leader in their movement who organized a 2014 standoff with authorities was criminally charged in federal court.

The holdouts were the last remnants of a larger group that seized the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge nearly six weeks ago, demanding that the government turn over the land to locals and release two ranchers imprisoned for setting fires.

Bundy, 69, was charged with conspiracy, assault on a federal officer, obstruction, weapons charges and other crimes.

The FBI said the final four occupiers were arrested as they walked out of the refuge to the FBI checkpoint.

Over the next several hours, the occupiers’ panic and their negotiation with FBI agents could be heard live on the Internet, broadcast by a sympathizer of the occupiers who established phone contact with them.