'Horrific incident' at sheriff training facility in LA - at least three people dead

At least three people have been killed after a "horrific incident" at a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department training facility, officials have said.

A spokesperson for the department said there was an explosion at the Biscailuz Center Academy Training in east LA.

The incident was reported at around 7.30am local time (3.30pm UK time).

Aerial footage from local channel KABC-TV suggests the blast happened in a parking lot filled with sheriff patrol cars and box trucks.

A law enforcement official briefed on the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told the Associated Press an investigation is looking into whether the incident was a training accident.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said that the arson and explosives team undergoes in-depth training, and the deputies had served 19, 22 and 33 years in the department.

He added: "They have years of training. They are fantastic experts and, unfortunately, I lost three of them today."

The county sheriff then said the incident marked the department's worst loss of life in a single incident since 1857, when four officers were killed by gunfire.

He also noted that he could not release the deputies' names because he had yet to speak to one of the families.

Attorney general Pam Bondi wrote on X: "I just spoke to @USAttyEssayli about what appears to be a horrific incident that killed at least three at a law enforcement training facility in Los Angeles.

"Our federal agents are at the scene and we are working to learn more."

California congressman Jimmy Sanchez also sent his "condolences to the families and everyone impacted by this loss".

Several law enforcement sources told Sky's US partner network NBC News two devices were moved to the training centre overnight. They said one of the devices then exploded on Friday morning, killing three and injuring a sergeant.

According to the law enforcement sources, investigators are trying to determine why they were moved and whether they could have been made safe at the scene or handled more securely in a bomb-proof container.

Later, the attorney general said in a follow-up post that agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are "on the ground to support".

Arson investigators from the Los Angeles Fire Department and members of the Los Angeles Police Department bomb squad were also assisting the investigation at the training facility, the mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, said in a post on X.

California Governor Gavin Newsom's office said he has been briefed on the incident.

"The Governor's Office of Emergency Services is in contact with the Sheriff's Department and closely monitoring the situation, and has offered full state assistance," it added.

(c) Sky News 2025: 'Horrific incident' at sheriff training facility in LA - at least three people dead