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Al Arabiya
4 days ago
- Al Arabiya
A grenade is missing from the scene of an explosion that killed 3 LA deputies
A grenade is missing from the scene of an explosion at a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department training facility that killed three members of its arson and explosives unit, authorities said Friday. At the time of the July 18 blast, the veteran deputies were working on two grenades that had been taken into custody by authorities. One of the grenades detonated, and the other is unaccounted for, Sheriff Robert Luna said, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. The agency is investigating the explosion and is expected to publish a final report in 45 days. Luna said authorities X-rayed special enforcement bureau vehicles, searched all around the blast area, and examined office spaces and even the gym and haven't found it. 'You get the drift. We have looked at everything out there that we possibly could,' he said, adding that no one from the public has had access to the area. The day before the explosion, members of the Sheriff's Department's arson and explosives unit arrived at an apartment in Santa Monica after someone who lived there said they found what appeared to be two hand grenades in a tenant's storage unit in the underground parking garage, Luna said. The detectives X-rayed the devices and believed they were inert or inactive. The devices were then taken to be destroyed and rendered safe at the Biscailuz Training Facility, he said. Luna said that since the explosion, he has called for an independent review of the policies and practices of the arson and explosives team and has already changed how they handle these types of situations. 'All future explosive devices, inert or not, will be treated as if they are all live and will be disposed of accordingly,' he said. The deaths early Friday marked the department's worst loss of life in a single incident since 1857, when four officers were killed by gunfire, Luna said. The department identified the deputies who died as Detective Joshua Kelley-Eklund, Detective Victor Lemus, and Detective William Osborn. They served 19, 22, and 33 years in the department respectively, Luna said.
Washington Post
4 days ago
- Washington Post
A grenade is missing from the scene of an explosion that killed 3 LA deputies
LOS ANGELES — A grenade is missing from the scene of an explosion that killed three Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies, authorities said Friday. The July 18 blast at a sheriff's department training facility killed three experienced deputies on the arson and explosives team. The deputies were working on two grenades that had been taken into custody by authorities. One of the grenades detonated, and the other is unaccounted for, Sheriff Robert Luna said, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, which is investigating the explosion.
Associated Press
19-07-2025
- Associated Press
What to know about arson and explosives units after blast at training facility in Los Angeles
Three members of the arson and explosives unit of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department were killed Friday in a blast at the department's training facility. It was not immediately clear what they were doing when the explosion happened in a parking lot at the Biscailuz Training Facility or what caused it. However an early line of investigation is examining whether it may have been a training accident, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the matter who was not authorized to discuss it publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. The detectives who died were part of a team that undergoes in-depth training and responds to more than 1,000 calls a year, according to the Sheriff Robert Luna. Here's what to know about law enforcement agencies' arson and explosives units: What do such units typically do? Depending on the agency, they can be responsible for everything from bomb disposal to search and prevention operations to arson investigations, according to Mark Lomax, former executive director of the National Tactical Officers Association and a retired major for the Pennsylvania State Police. In bomb disposal actions, team members might respond to a package or box that could contain an explosive device and then use tools like robots or X-ray devices to 'render it safe,' Lomax said. If there is an explosion, members could be sent to investigate, including working to determine the types of materials used to make the bomb, he said. They may also help with search and prevention at big events using bomb sniffing dogs and scanners. On the fire side of the unit, team members could be responsible for arson investigations, including determining the cause of a fire and whether it was natural or intentional, Lomax said. How common is it for a law enforcement agency to have a team like this? Whether or not an agency has such a unit would likely depend on the size of the department and its location. There are thousands of police departments in the U.S., and the majority of them are under 50 people, according to Lomax. Smaller departments might not have sufficient personnel, money or equipment to have their own explosives team. 'A lot of times, depending on location, they may use the county sheriff's department in certain locations or the state police in other locations,' Lomax said. The team from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department would likely be deployed to smaller cities in the county to help with such incidents as suspicious packages or even to educate the community about what to look out for. What type of training do team members typically undergo? A certified bomb technician would need to have a certification from the FBI, most likely from its Hazardous Devices School in Huntsville, Alabama, Lomax said. That training includes threat assessment and puts participants in 'true-to-life training settings,' according to a video on the FBI's website. For advanced training, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has a national center at the same location, according to Lomax. There is also regional training. 'It's very dangerous, and therefore it demands higher, more advanced training, more advanced equipment,' Lomax said. For arson investigations, officials may go to the National Fire Academy in Maryland or participate in fire investigations training through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, according to Lomax. There are also local academies that offer more basic arson investigation courses. The people on these teams likely were already officers, troopers or deputies and then later took the specialized training, Lomax said. How dangerous can training be for this type of unit? Explosives training involving actual explosive devices can be very dangerous because there can be many unknowns, according to Lomax. Everything from the amount of moisture in the air that day to how long the material has been on the shelf could impact an exercise. 'There's so many different variables that make that type of training extremely, extremely dangerous and hazardous,' Lomax said. He referenced a 2022 incident in which five bomb technicians were injured by the detonation of an explosive device during a training exercise in Pennsylvania conducted by the FBI's Philadelphia field office. And in 2021, there was a catastrophic explosion in Los Angeles as homemade fireworks were being destroyed by a bomb squad. It injured 17 people and damaged dozens of homes, businesses and vehicles. ___ Associated Press writer Eric Tucker in Washington contributed.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Yahoo
3 LA County sheriff's deputies killed by explosion at training facility, the agency's largest loss of life since 1857
An explosion at a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department training facility killed three veteran members assigned to the agency's arson and explosives detail Friday morning – a tragedy that marks the 'largest loss of life' at the department since 1857, according to Sheriff Robert Luna. The explosion is believed to have been an accident. Federal and local investigators began working to determine what led to the explosion after the scene was rendered safe by the Los Angeles Police Department's bomb squad just after 11 a.m. local time, Luna said at a news conference. It's unclear whether the incident was related to a training session or whether officers were handling evidence, a senior law enforcement source familiar with the incident told CNN. The three sworn members had collectively served for 74 years and authorities are not releasing their names at this time, the sheriff said. Luna added he's met with several family members of the deputies, but some have not yet been notified. 'The individuals who work our arson explosives detail, they have years of training,' Luna said, adding the members respond to an average of 1,100 calls per year, which include 'dealing with some very dangerous situations or items.' 'These aren't people who don't do this very often. They are fantastic experts, and unfortunately, I lost three of them today,' the sheriff continued. The incident happened shortly after 7:30 a.m. local time at the Biscailuz Center Training Academy, which houses the sheriff's department's special enforcement units and bomb squad, according to a release from the LASD. The facility is located about 6 miles east of downtown LA. 'At this time, we do not know the cause of the explosion … I can tell you, there is no threat to this community. This is an isolated incident,' Luna said. US Attorney General Pam Bondi and the LASD said earlier Friday the three members died in a 'critical workplace incident.' 'I just spoke to (US Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli) about what appears to be a horrific incident that killed at least three at a law enforcement training facility in Los Angeles,' Bondi said in a post on X. 'Our federal agents are at the scene and we are working to learn more. Please pray for the families of the sheriff's deputies killed.' 'Sheriff's homicide detectives are on scene,' the LASD said. The FBI is responding to assist with the incident, according to the FBI's Los Angeles field office. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are also on scene, according to Bondi. LASD homicide detectives are also on scene investigating the deaths, Luna said. Los Angeles Fire Department arson investigators and members of the Los Angeles Police Department's bomb squad are assisting at the training facility, LA Mayor Karen Bass said in a post on X. The work of the bomb squad was complicated by the fact officers had to ensure no other explosive material that could be stored there was vulnerable to detonation, the senior law enforcement source told CNN. Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell said in a statement: 'We stand in solidarity with our Sheriff's Department colleagues during this incredibly difficult time and we remain ready to assist in any way we can.' 'The LAPD bomb squad, SWAT and K-9 teams are actively responding to calls for service on behalf of our Sheriff's Department partners so they can focus fully on supporting their personnel and conducting this critical investigation,' McDonnell said. 'I am heartbroken to hear of the terrible tragedy that has unfolded today at an L.A. County Sheriff's Department facility,' Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger said in a statement. 'I am closely tracking the situation as we learn more about what occurred and the condition of those affected. My heart is heavy, and my thoughts are with the brave men and women of the Sheriff's Department during this difficult time. We stand with them and their families as they navigate the hours and days ahead,' Barger said. This story has been updated with additional information. Solve the daily Crossword
Al Jazeera
18-07-2025
- Al Jazeera
Three killed in explosion at Los Angeles Sheriff's training facility
Three killed in explosion at Los Angeles Sheriff's training facility NewsFeed Three members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department were killed in an explosion at a training facility Friday morning. Sheriff Robert Luna said the incident was the department's largest loss of life since 1857. The cause is under investigation. Video Duration 01 minutes 46 seconds 01:46 Video Duration 02 minutes 33 seconds 02:33 Video Duration 02 minutes 43 seconds 02:43 Video Duration 01 minutes 10 seconds 01:10 Video Duration 01 minutes 57 seconds 01:57 Video Duration 00 minutes 31 seconds 00:31 Video Duration 01 minutes 05 seconds 01:05
