Officials say three officers were killed in an explosion in a law enforcement training facility in Eastern Los Angeles.
The explosion occurred at around 07:30 local time (15:30 BST), in the Biscaluz Center Academy Training Facility on Friday, including the Special Enforcement Bureau of the Sheriff Department and the arson explosive expansion.
The exact cause of the explosion is still under investigation, but LASD’s Sheriff Robert Luna described it as a “a separate event”. There were no additional injuries.
The three officers killed in the blast were “brilliant experts” and the department veterans, each of whom serving between 19 and 33 years, Sheriff said.
The officials have not previously issued the names of the dead officers citing the need to inform their families. The three were assigned to the arson expansion of the Sheriff Department.
Sheriff Luna said that Friday’s incident represents the biggest loss of life of the department in the same incident since its establishment in 1857.
“We have to go back and check what happened from the beginning,” he said. FBI and alcohol, tobacco, firearm and explosive bureau are assisting in investigation.
American Attorney General Palm Bondi called the incident “frightening” and said that federal agents were deployed on the scene and “working to learn more”.
Officials say the special enforcement bureau parking of the blast facility took place.
According to BBC American partner CBS, the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department bomb squad responded to Santa Monica Garage on Thursday, where at least one grenade was found.
Citing police sources, the CBS said that the grenade was taken to training facility on Friday, where officials were allegedly working to keep it safe.
The area around the convenience was evacuated and has since been sealed as investigators have continued to work on the spot.
California governor Gavin Newsom was informed about the blast and “closely monitoring the situation”, his office said in a statement on X.
Newsom’s office said state assistance has also been provided to help react to the incident.
Catherine Burgar, head of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, wrote in a statement that she was “tracking the situation closely because we learn more about what happened and the situation of the affected people”.
“My heart is heavy, and my thoughts are with the brave men and women of the Sheriff Department during this difficult time,” she said.