16 SWAT officers hospitalized after blast at training facility in Southern California

NEW DELHI: An explosion during an indoor training exercise on Wednesday sent 16 members of the Southern California's Orange County Sheriff’s Department SWAT team to the hospital, with one individual requiring surgery for a leg injury, according to the department.

The incident occurred shortly before 1 pm at a facility located in a remote area of Irvine. Sergeant Frank Gonzalez of the sheriff's department stated that the blast happened during a training session involving the sheriff’s bomb squad, although the cause of the explosion remains unclear.

Of the injured deputies, one suffered a non-life-threatening leg wound that necessitated surgery, while two others sustained superficial wounds. The remaining 13 deputies reported symptoms of dizziness and ringing in their ears.

Helicopter news footage depicted a small one-story building surrounded by yellow police tape within grassy fields.

Fortunately, no FBI personnel were harmed in the explosion, confirmed bureau spokesperson Laura Eimiller. The facility, located south of Los Angeles, is utilized for firearms training and qualifications tests for both the FBI and local law enforcement agencies, Eimiller added.

The FBI will spearhead the investigation into the incident, as announced by Sergeant Gonzalez, emphasizing the need for a thorough examination to determine the cause of the explosion and prevent similar incidents in the future.