3 deputies dead in explosion at LA sheriff's training center as bomb squad responds
The cause of the reported explosion at the Biscailuz Training Center – which occurred just before 7.30 a.m. local time – is not yet known.
KTLA reported that a bomb squad from the Los Angeles Police Department's bomb squad arrived at the center at around 8.45 a.m. local time.
Sources told The Los Angeles Times that a bomb squad was moving some explosives when the blast occurred.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
a minute ago
- Reuters
Federal agency opens probe into former Trump prosecutor Jack Smith
Aug 2 (Reuters) - A U.S. federal agency has opened a formal investigation into former Special Counsel Jack Smith, who oversaw two criminal probes into President Donald Trump following his first term in the White House. The Office of Special Counsel confirmed to Reuters that it was investigating whether Smith violated the Hatch Act, a law prohibiting federal employees from using their position for political activity. The decision follows a request for a probe by U.S. Senator Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican. The OSC is an independent agency that probes the conduct of federal employees, but it does not have the authority to bring criminal charges. It is different from the type of Special Counsel's office previously overseen by Smith, who was appointed by the Department of Justice to pursue criminal cases. The OSC's investigation, which was first reported by the New York Post, is the latest in a series of actions taken by Trump and his allies against their perceived political enemies. Smith, who resigned from his post in January following Trump's election victory, could not immediately be reached for comment. Earlier this week Cotton accused Smith of aggressively pursuing his cases against Trump with the aim of hurting his presidential campaign, calling Smith "a political actor masquerading as a public official" in a series of posts on X. "That's why I've asked this unprecedented interference in the 2024 election be immediately investigated by OSC," Cotton wrote on X. A former war crimes prosecutor, Smith brought two criminal cases against Trump: one accusing him of illegally retaining classified material and another related to Trump's attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss, an effort that sparked the January 6, 2021, assault, opens new tab on the U.S. Capitol. Neither case went to trial, having been delayed and buffeted by a series of legal challenges, including a ruling by the Supreme Court's conservative majority that granted former presidents broad immunity from criminal prosecution. Smith dropped both cases after Trump won the election, citing a longstanding Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting president, but issued a report in January saying the evidence he gathered would have been enough to convict Trump at trial. Trump denied wrongdoing and assailed the prosecutions as politically motivated attempts to damage his campaign.
Daily Mail
a minute ago
- Daily Mail
Scary photos show bomb wrapped in cellophane found in Cali man's bedroom as his messages to ISIS revealed
Shocking photographs show what appears to be a homemade bomb wrapped in cellophane, reportedly recovered from the bedroom of a California man accused of supporting the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Mark Lorenzo Villanueva, 28, was arrested Friday morning and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization - a felony offense that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. His arrest comes after federal agents with the FBI 's Joint Terrorism Task Force recovered knives and what appeared to be an improvised explosive device inside his Long Beach home. According to officials, the bomb-like device, discovered in his bedroom, was packed with ball bearings, wrapped in cellophane, and wired with red and black electrical cords. The horrifying discovery came as investigators also uncovered disturbing messages Villanueva, a lawful permanent U.S. resident originally from the Philippines, exchanged with individuals he believed to be ISIS fighters. According to court documents, the 28-year-old used social media to communicate with two individuals who identified themselves as ISIS fighters. During these communications, Villanueva discussed his desire to support ISIS, and offered to send money to the ISIS fighters to support their terrorist activities, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. He expressed a desire to join their ranks, writing, 'It's an honor to fight and die for our faith. It's the best way to go to heaven,' and later adding, 'Someday soon, I'll be joining.' Villanueva also allegedly told one of the individuals that he possessed the lethal weapons - a bomb and knives - which authorities later recovered from his home on the 3000 block of Caspian Avenue. Prosecutors added that the Long Beach resident sent a total of 12 payments, amounting to $1,615, over a five-month span using Western Union, to two intermediaries who accessed the funds overseas. 'Villanueva is alleged to have financially supported and pledged his allegiance to a terror group that targets the United States and our interests around the world,' Patrick Grandy, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office, said. 'Thanks to the proactive efforts by the Joint Terrorism Task Force, the FBI and our partners safely arrested Mr. Villanueva today and prevented further support and spreading of ISIS ideology.' Villanueva was also found to have asked one of the individuals back in February if the money he sent would 'cover your equipment and your weapons'. 'Supporting a terrorist group, whether at home or abroad, is a serious risk to our national security,' Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said. 'We will aggressively hunt down and prosecute anyone who provides support or comfort to our enemies.' Following his arrest, Villanueva's neighbors expressed shock at his 'unexpected' behavior, describing their neighbor as quiet and unassuming. Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said federal authorities 'will aggressively hunt down and prosecute anyone who provides support or comfort to our enemies' 'I don't know what to think. It's kind of scary,' Heliodoro Becerra, a neighbor of Villanueva's told KTLA. 'You see your neighbors, but you don't see what they're doing inside their house.' Although federal authorities allege Villanueva believed he was speaking with ISIS fighters, some experts warn that he may have been communicating with undercover agents. 'There is nothing in the criminal complaint that makes it clear he was actually talking to ISIS,' Hal Kempfer, a retired Marine intelligence officer, told KTLA. 'He could very well have been talking to law enforcement working undercover online.' Still, Kempfer emphasized the continued risk posed by individuals self-radicalizing from their homes. 'You probably wouldn't notice a neighbor who is self-radicalizing online at night,' he said. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin S. Scott of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section, with assistance from Trial Attorney Patrick Cashman of the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force continues to investigate. Villanueva appeared in a Los Angeles court after his Friday arrest, where he was ordered to be held without bond. His arraignment is scheduled for August 15 at the Roybal Federal Building. ISIS, also known as ISIL or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, is a Sunni jihadist group with a particularly violent ideology that calls itself a caliphate and claims religious authority over all Muslims, according to
Daily Mail
a minute ago
- Daily Mail
Ghislaine Maxwell moved to low-risk jail as inmates bombarded her with death threats and accusations she was a 'snitch'
Ghislaine Maxwell was moved to another prison under cover of darkness after being 'bombarded' with death threats from rapists and murderers who accused her of being a 'snitch', The Mail on Sunday can reveal. The convicted sex offender was moved from Tallahassee Federal Jail in Florida to 'cushy' low-security Bryan prison camp 100 miles outside Houston, Texas, amid fears she would be killed. The move – which has been condemned by Maxwell's victims – came after the disgraced socialite spent two days speaking to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche about more than 100 men connected to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, including Prince Andrew. Epstein died in jail in 2019 – his death was ruled a suicide but many, including his brother Mark, believe he was murdered – before he could be prosecuted on multiple child sex charges. During a nine-hour interrogation with Mr Blanche, Maxwell was grilled about men including Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, Bill Gates and 'several billionaires'. The source said: 'As soon as Ghislaine spoke to the government she was considered a snitch by other inmates at Tallahassee. There were very real and very credible threats on her life. The prison had dangerous inmates serving time for serious crimes like rape and murder. 'Tallahassee has not had a permanent governor in some time and is chronically under-staffed. She has faced death threats before but after meeting with the government she was bombarded with them. She had a target on her back. 'There were real fears inside Tallahassee that they could not guarantee her safety, which is why she was moved.' Maxwell was moved early on Thursday morning in a two-car convoy that drove 'for 16-hours straight' to Bryan, Texas. She was not shackled during the drive and stopped once for a toilet break in Louisiana. It is unprecedented for a convicted sex offender such as Maxwell – sentenced to 20 years – to be moved to a minimum-security facility like Bryan, nicknamed 'Camp Fed'. The source explained: 'There is a different class of people at Bryan so she is less likely to be attacked. It is an all-female facility. 'These are non-violent, white-collar criminals. It is a professionally run prison camp with a great warden, working cameras everywhere and properly trained staff. She is far safer there.' The source said reports Maxwell was in an 'honour dorm' in Tallahassee and already receiving preferential treatment were untrue. Bryan prison allows inmates to freely roam its 37-acre grounds which have 'limited or no perimeter fencing', according to the US Bureau of Prison's website. Inmates can take part in activities including training guide dogs for the blind, which allows them to keep a puppy for much of the day for 'socialisation'. There are yoga classes and a state-of-the-art gym. Maxwell will mix with white collar criminals including Elizabeth Holmes, the Silicon Valley fraudster convicted of stealing tens of millions through her now defunct blood-testing company, and Jen Shah, a former Real Housewife of Salt Lake City who was convicted of a telemarketing scam. The family of Virginia Giuffre expressed outrage over the move. Ms Giuffre died by suicide in April aged 41. She claimed Maxwell recruited her from the spa at Donald Trump's private Mar-a-Lago club and she was 'passed her around like a plate of meat' for Epstein and his friends to abuse. In a statement on Friday, Ms Giuffre's family said: 'Trump has sent a clear message today. Paedophiles deserve preferential treatment... Ghislaine Maxwell is a monster who deserves to rot in prison for the rest of her life.' Mr Trump's administration was plunged into a storm after promising to release files on Epstein but failing to do so. In an interview with Newsmax on Friday he said he will release them 'as long as they don't hurt anyone'. He added: 'I'm allowed to give her (Maxwell) a pardon but, right now, it would be inappropriate to talk about it.' Maxwell was set to testify before Congress on August 11 but it has been postponed while the US Supreme Court decides whether to hear her appeal.
