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  • Explosion Levels Arlington Duplex
ATF investigators are on the scene of the Arlington explosion.
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Explosion Levels Arlington Duplex

Arlington police had been on the scene for hours before the explosion, and had been trying to serve a search warrant to the person inside.

By Colleen Kelleher December 5, 2023 at 5:54 am

An explosion leveled a duplex in Arlington Monday night, rocking the neighborhood in the 800 block of North Burlington Street.

Arlington police said officers were already on the scene before the explosion. They had been dispatched at 4:45 p.m. for reports of possible shots.

The police said the preliminary investigation found the suspect had discharged a flare gun 30 to 40 times into the neighborhood. No damage was done then.

Arlington police said they got a search warrant for the home and tried to contact the person inside using the phone and loudspeakers.

The suspect remained barricaded in the duplex.

“As officers were attempting to execute the search warrant, the suspect discharged several rounds, from what is believed to be a firearm, inside the home. Subsequently, at approximately 8:25 p.m., an explosion occurred at the residence,” a news release said.

Video shows the explosion.

Video of the explosion. Hope everyone was out of the house#Arlington #ballston @ARLnowDOTcom @RealTimeNews10 pic.twitter.com/JSZE7LkoTD

— c “” maj (@connormaj) December 5, 2023

Raw video shows a house in Arlington, Virginia, burst into flames and collapse after police responded to reports of someone firing a flare gun, authorities said. https://t.co/aR6hgz2b6N

— NBC4 Washington (@nbcwashington) December 5, 2023

Three officers reports reported minor injuries, but nobody went to the hospital

No neighbors were hurt.

It took the fire department two hours to control the fire, and is still on the scene putting out small fires.

The police department said the investigation is still underway.

Certified fire investigators from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives are on the scene, AFTWashington said on social media.

Roads around the area remain closed.

Feature image, stock.adobe.com

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