Three killed in explosion at LA sheriff training center as FBI launches probe
Illustrative photo: US police at the scene of the tragedy (Getty images)
A powerful explosion struck a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department training center on Friday, killing at least three people. Authorities are investigating whether the blast occurred during the transport of explosives, Reuters informs.
The incident happened on July 18 at the Biscailuz Academy in East Los Angeles, which houses a specialized training facility for the Sheriff's Department.
The explosion occurred shortly before 7:30 AM local time (14:30 GMT). According to aerial footage from ABC 7, the blast was strong enough to damage nearby sheriff vehicles, shattering the windows of at least one SUV.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the fatalities and said authorities were actively investigating the circumstances of the explosion. She posted the following message on X:
"I just spoke to Bill Essayli (US Attorney for the Central District of California -ed.) about what appears to be a horrific incident that killed at least three at a law enforcement training facility in Los Angeles," Bondi wrote.
The explosion has drawn national attention from law enforcement and is now the subject of a federal investigation.
Agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were dispatched to the scene, signaling possible violations of federal laws involving weapons or explosives.
Some US media outlets, citing unnamed law enforcement sources, reported the blast may have occurred during the transport of explosives by a bomb squad working at the facility.
The site where the explosion took place serves both as a training ground and as the headquarters for the bomb disposal unit of the Sheriff's Department. The area has been sealed off, and access is currently restricted.
Officials have not said whether they are treating the incident as a potential act of terrorism or criminal negligence. However, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna called the situation extremely serious and said more information would be released after the initial investigation is completed.
Luna said it had been a horrific day for the entire law enforcement community in the county, as they had lost three of their own.
The victims have not yet been formally identified. A medical examination is pending, and names will be released after the next of kin are notified.
As a reminder, a fire has broken out at a military base in the Russian city of Rostov. Russian social media users reported that the blaze occurred at the intersection of Sokolov Avenue and Krasnoarmeyskaya Street, within the territory of a military facility. As of now, there has been no official comment on the incident.
Separately, unidentified drones targeted the Shchekinoazot chemical plant in Russia's Tula region.
