Three killed in explosion at Los Angeles police training facility

Three officers have died in an explosion at a law enforcement training facility in east Los Angeles, officials say.

The blast occurred at around 07:30 local time (15:30 BST) on Friday at the Biscailuz Center Academy Training facility, which houses the sheriffs departments special enforcement bureau and arson explosives detail, including the bomb squad.

The exact cause of the explosion is still under investigation, but Sheriff Robert Luna of the LASD described it as "an isolated incident". There were no additional injuries.

The three officers killed in the blast were "fantastic experts" and veterans of the department, each serving between 19 to 33 years, the sheriff said.

Authorities have identified those killed as detectives Joshua Kelley-Eklund, Victor Lemus and William Osborn. All three were assigned to the sheriff departments arson explosives detail.

Fridays incident represents the departments largest loss of life in a single incident since its founding in 1857, Sheriff Luna said.

"We have to go back and investigate what happened from the very beginning," he said. The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are helping the investigation.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi called the incident "horrific" and said federal agents had been deployed on the scene and were "working to learn more".

Authorities say the explosion took place in the car park of the facilitys special enforcement bureau.

According to the BBCs US partner CBS, the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Departments bomb squad responded to a Santa Monica garage on Thursday where at least one grenade was found.

The grenade was transported to the training facility on Friday, where officers were reportedly working to render it safe before it exploded, CBS reported, citing police sources.

The area surrounding the facility was evacuated and has since been sealed off as investigators continue to work at the scene.

California Governor Gavin Newsom was briefed about the explosion and was "closely monitoring the situation", his office said in a statement on X.

Newsoms office added that state assistance had also been offered to help respond to the incident.

Kathryn Barger, Chief of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, wrote in a statement that she was "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 Sheriffs Department during this difficult time," she said.