At least three people were killed in an accidental explosion at a Los Angeles sheriff’s training center on Friday.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Nicole Nishida said the explosion occurred around 7:30 a.m. at the Biscailuz Training Facility.
Attorney General Pam Bondi described the incident as a “horrific accident” and added that the FBI and agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were on the scene helping with rescue efforts. A statement from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D-CA) office said the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services is also working with first responders and ordered “full state assistance.”
The explosion occurred in the facility’s parking lot, which was filled with police cars and trucks. Law enforcement sources told NBC Los Angeles that deputies were tasked with moving small “military-style explosives” at the time of the explosion.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the Los Angeles Fire Department and ATF arson investigators were on the scene, along with members of the Los Angeles Police Department bomb squad.
“The thoughts of all Angelenos are with all of those impacted by this blast,” she said.
Preliminary details from the investigation suggested that the explosion was the result of a training accident, according to a law enforcement source speaking with the Associated Press.
TRUMP WITHDRAWS ROUGHLY 2,000 NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS FROM LOS ANGELES
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said the incident was “isolated” and no threat existed to the larger public.
“There is a lot more that we don’t know than we do know,” Luna said, adding that the cause of the explosion was currently unknown.