Update 10: 20 a.m.
While the FBI has refused to comment after two homes in Dale City were raided, they do say there was no exchange of gunfire.
Witnesses about 11:50 p.m. told PotomacLocal.com they heard gunshots fired when the FBI raided the homes on Bremerton Drive in Dale City.
Witnesses also said they saw flash bombs used inside at least one of the homes.
FBI spokesman Andrew Ames said he couldn’t confirm the use of flash bombs, and said the agency would not release any more details pending an ongoing investigation.
With little to go on this morning, there are still more questions than answers stemming from last night’s apparent raids.
Federal agents in one of the homes used gas masks and wore heavy equipment as they investigated the home.
Neighbors say they were told to stay inside of their homes while agents carried out their work.
Original Post
Dale City, Va. –– There was an exchange of gunfire, at least two flash bombs used, and then multiple arrests made at two houses Wednesday night, witnesses said.
The commotion started about 9:30 p.m. when FBI agents apparently raided two houses that sit side by side in the 14300 block of Bremerton Drive, in Dale City’s Birchdale neighborhood.
Armored cars were used in the operation, witnesses say.
So far the FBI is not commenting on what happened here, only to say this was a joint operation by local and federal authorities.
A Prince William police crime scene truck was brought to the scene about 11:30 p.m.
Inside the homes, investigators with clipboards appeared to comb at least one of the houses, at 14301 Bremerton Drive, for evidence while concerned neighbors looked on in the pouring rain.
The agents wore gas masks and at least one of them had a large tank on his back.
Neighbors say there is often a police presence on the street, but never like this.
“The police come down here but it’s no big deal…all of these roads around here lead to the woods, and if somebody wants to do something bad, they can come down here because it’s a quick getaway into the woods,” said Ron Rohrbach, whose lived in the neighborhood for 20 years.
Another neighbor who declined to give his name said he’s known the FBI had been staking-out someone or something on the street.
Two weeks ago a car was parked in front of his home, and when he asked the driver to move, he said the occupants of the car flashed two FBI badges.
Neighbors said prior to the bust one of the houses had a lot of traffic in and out of it at all times of the day. The other house, at 14303 Bremerton Drive, is said to be quiet, always decorated at Christmastime and is home to a family.
