Three veteran officers lost their lives in an explosion at a law enforcement training centre in East Los Angeles on Friday morning, according to local officials.
The blast occurred around 7:30 am at the Biscailuz Center Academy Training Facility, which houses specialized units of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, including the bomb squad and arson explosives division.
Sheriff Robert Luna confirmed the fatal incident, describing it as an "isolated" event. No other injuries were reported.
The officers who died were highly experienced members of the department, each with between 19 and 33 years of service, and all assigned to the arson explosives unit. Their names have not been released, pending notification of their families.
“This is the greatest single-incident loss in our department’s history since its founding in 1857,” said Sheriff Luna. “We will be conducting a thorough investigation, starting from the very beginning.”
The explosion reportedly took place in the parking area of the facility’s special enforcement bureau. Federal agencies including the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting in the investigation.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi labelled the event “horrific,” stating that federal personnel were already on-site and working to uncover the cause.
According to CBS, the Sheriff’s Department’s bomb squad had responded to a call in Santa Monica the previous day, where at least one grenade was found. That device was transported to the training facility and was reportedly being neutralized at the time of the explosion.
Emergency teams evacuated and sealed off the surrounding area while forensic teams examined the scene.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has been briefed on the situation and is actively monitoring developments. His office confirmed that the state has offered support in the response.
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger also expressed her condolences, saying, “My heart is heavy. I stand with the courageous men and women of the Sheriff's Department during this painful time.”
Source: BBC
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