ARLINGTON (Virginia, US), Dec 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A huge explosion has destroyed at least one home in a suburb of Washington DC as police executed a search warrant, authorities said.
Officers were called to the home in Arlington, Virginia, at 16:45 EST on Monday after reports of someone firing a flare gun.
When they tried to enter, there were shots fired then a big explosion.
Officers on the scene reported only minor injuries while the suspect inside the home is unaccounted for.
The fire department extinguished the blaze.
The incident started when the suspect fired a flare gun between 30 to 40 times, Arlington police said, which did not cause any injuries or property damage.
Officers then obtained a search warrant and tried to speak to him over the phone and loudspeakers, but the suspect did not respond and remained barricaded inside the house.
“As officers were attempting to execute a search warrant at the residence, the suspect discharged several rounds inside the home,” the police department said.
The suspect fired shots from what was “believed to be a firearm” around 20:25 EST, Arlington police said.
It is unknown what caused the explosion and investigations are ongoing, they added.
The suspect has yet to be identified and it is not clear what condition he is in. It seemed no one else was in the duplex home at the time of the explosion, police said.
In a post on X, Virginia’s Democratic Representative Don Beyer said: “This is very, very scary, and my profound thanks go out to first responders working to secure the area and keep everyone safe.” — NNN-AGENCIES