Credited from: ALJAZEERA
An explosion occurred early Friday at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department training facility, resulting in the tragic deaths of three deputies. The incident took place at approximately 7:30 a.m. at the Biscailuz Training Facility in East Los Angeles, according to officials from the Sheriff's Department and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who described it as a "horrific incident" on social media. While local reports confirmed the fatalities, the Sheriff's Department has not officially verified this information as of yet, according to Reuters and BBC.
The explosion reportedly occurred during a training exercise when deputies were involved in handling explosives. Sources indicate that the deputies belonged to the Sheriff's Arson-Explosives Detail, and the incident is being looked at preliminarily as a training accident. California Governor Gavin Newsom has been updated about the situation and has assured that state resources are being mobilized to assist with the investigation, according to South China Morning Post and Al Jazeera.
Citing confidentiality, law enforcement officials have not disclosed the identities of the victims, but Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna mentioned that this incident marks the deadliest day in the department's history since 1857. Aerial footage from the scene showed an extensive presence of investigative teams, including members from the local bomb squad and federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), who are analyzing the circumstances surrounding the explosion, as reported by Reuters and Los Angeles Times.
Local leaders have expressed their condolences and support for the families of the victims during this challenging time. Hilda Solis, a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, extended her sympathies to the families and colleagues of those who lost their lives, reiterating the significant emotional toll on the community, as detailed in HuffPost and Dawn.