Wakefield standoff LIVE – Police order 'shelter in place' as 'Moorish' armed group flees into woods after traffic stop
SHELTER in place warning has been issued in Massachusetts as eight heavily armed men remain at large.
During a traffic stop around Route 128 in Wakefield, the eight men exited a vehicle armed with rifles and handguns and fled into the woods.
Since then, two of the men have been arrested by Wakefield police. However, a shelter in place has been issued for residents in the nearby Redding area as the rest of the men remain missing.
The men are said to be a part of the group “The Rise of The Moors – The Moorish American Arms."
The police force has stated that this group “does not recognise our laws.” The Wakefield police say the remaining six men yet to be found are "armed and dangerous."
Read our Wakefield Standoff live blog below for the very latest news and updates…
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
WHAT DID THE GROUP SAY IN YOUTUBE VIDEOS?
Authorities confirmed that members of the group posted a video to the YouTube account, Rise of the Moors, on Saturday morning.
One video shows several men wearing camouflage clothing declaring "we are not anti-government."
In another video, one of the members says, "We're not anti-police, we're not sovereign citizens. We're not black identity extremists.
"The possession of a gun per se, constitutes no offense, so we haven't violated any laws."
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
POLICE CONFIRM SUSPECTS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY
Police confirmed that the remaining suspects had been taken into custody late on Saturday morning, after being at large around 15 miles from Boston.
"Remaining suspects on highway have been taken into custody by MSP Special Tactical Operations Team," Mass Police tweeted.
"7 additional suspects being transported for booking. We will now conduct sweeps of their 2 vehicles and woods. Total of 9 in custody counting the initial 2 arrests."
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
11 SUSPECTS NOW IN CUSTODY
At a press briefing Saturday, police gave an update that 11 suspects are currently in custody.
"11 armed individuals standing with armed guns slung standing by the highway certainly raises concerns," a police officer said of the arrest.
The police also conducted sweeps of the two vehicles in the area.
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
STANDOFF BEGAN DURING TRAFFIC STOP
Eight men armed with rifles and handguns exited a vehicle during a stop along Route 128 when the incident began, according to the Wakefield police.
The group of heavily-armed men refused to comply with law enforcement officers following a traffic stop early Saturday morning.
The Mail Online adds that a state trooper had asked them for identification.
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
ARMED GROUP ALLEGEDLY WAS HEADING TO MAINE
The group that engaged in an armed standoff with police was allegedly going from Rhode Island to Maine to practice training.
Following a press conference this morning, Josh Brogadir, reporting for WCVB, said: "MSP Colonel Mason said he is not aware that this group of men, identified as Moorish American Arms, has made any specific demands.
"He added that they were on their way from Rhode Island to Maine to do what they called training."
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
HOW DID THE INCIDENT BEGIN?
The Wakefield PD posted to its website: "The Wakefield Police Department is assisting the Massachusetts State Police with a dangerous incident on Route 128 Northbound in the area of Parker Road.
"During a motor vehicle stop, several heavily armed men claiming to be from a group that does not recognize our laws exited their vehicles and fled into the woodline off 128 in the area of Parker Road/Elm Street.
"Approximately eight males fled into the woods carrying rifles and handguns and appear to be contained in the wooded area adjacent to the highway."
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
GROUP THAT ENGAGED IN ARMED STANDOFF POSTED VIDEOS TO YOUTUBE
Police stated earlier that the group responsible for the armed standoff posted multiple videos this morning on the Youtube channel "Rise of the Moors."
"I reassured them that we are not anti-police. I reassured them that we are not anti-government," one clip states.
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
FOOTAGE SHOWS A SUSPECT TELL A NEGOTIATOR 'WE ARE NOT ANTI-GOVERNMENT'
Footage from CBSN Boston shows one of the heavily armed suspects tell a police negotiator "I’ve expressed to you multiple times we are not anti-government."
"We're not going to escalate anything any further. We're going to continue to not point our arms at you, because that's not what we're here for," the man says.
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
FOOTAGE SHOWS MULTIPLE POLICE CARS ARRIVING AT THE SCENE
Footage from WBZ News Radio shows a line of police cars arriving after a "shelter in place" order was given.
The clip was taken at the intersection of Prospect and North Streets.
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
WHAT GROUP WERE THE SUSPECTS FROM?
The suspects claimed to belong to a group called “The Rise of The Moors – The Moorish American Arms.”
The men claimed to be from a group “that does not recognize our laws” and fled into a wooded area.
They were reportedly wearing tactical-style gear and carrying an assortment of pistols and rifles for 'training'.
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
HOW MANY SUSPECTS WERE AT THE SCENE?
According to Massachusetts State Police, a total of nine people are currently in custody.
Two of the suspects were arrested initially, while seven are being transported to be booked.
The suspects brought two vehicles to the scene.
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
SHELTER IN PLACE ORDER LIFTED
The shelter in place order given by police after a standoff with an armed group has been lifted.
The order applied to residents of both Wakefield and Reading.
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
POLICE REOPEN HIGHWAYS
Massachusetts State Police have reopened the Interstate 95 South while the North route remains closed.
Police are currently sweeping the area, including the two vehicles left by suspects at the scene.
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
ALL SUSPECTS NOW IN CUSTODY
The Massachusetts State Police announced via Twitter that all suspects in the standoff have been taken into custody.
The tweet also stated that the police will conduct sweeps of the two vehicles used and the surrounding woods.
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
ALL SUSPECTS FACE GUN CHARGES
The nine suspects arrested at the Wakefield standoff with police will all face gun charges, Steve Cooper reports for 7NEWS.
- Cybele Mayes-Osterman
ONE INJURED IN STANDOFF WITH POLICE
One person has been injured in the standoff between police and a heavily armed group that fled into the forest in Wakefield.
"We have one injured party," a scanner on site said.
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