There’s been a massive house explosion in the Ballston neighborhood of Arlington, Va., just five miles from the Pentagon.
Arlington County Police say they were attempting to execute a search warrant in the 800 block of N. Burlington Street when the suspect discharged a flare gun. According to the most recent tweet from the ACPD, the suspect released “several rounds” inside the home, which subsequently exploded.
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UPDATE: As officers were attempting to execute a search warrant at the residence, the suspect discharged several rounds inside the home. Subsequently, an explosion occurred at the residence and officers continue to investigate the circumstances of the explosion.
— ArlingtonCountyPD (@ArlingtonVaPD) December 5, 2023
The blast was caught on video. You can see blue police lights across the street from the house before it blew up.
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
Here’s another view from QED_Capitol on X:
Something just blew up in Ballston#arlington@alanhenney @RealTimeNews10 pic.twitter.com/gEGMcJy76k
— QED (@QED_Capital) December 5, 2023
QED said, “Earlier today at like 5pm, 3 flares got launched from this same location, thought it was weird, and then just now boom.” He added that he “Definitely heard the shots about 5 minutes before it blew up.”
Google Maps shows the proximity to the Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery, and several national landmarks in the nation’s capital.
Citizen Free Press posted what appear to be Ring notifications alerting residents of the explosion.
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Multiple reports of an “explosion” in the Ballston area in Arlington outside Washington DC. https://t.co/8HqoP4Bk5E pic.twitter.com/Kj4P8dwHql
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) December 5, 2023
Sam Kim captured video of the police presence at the home prior to the blast.
Video before the explosion between the house and the police. Explosion before my eyes was crazy. I believe the person was still inside.#ballston #Arlington @ARLnowDOTcom @RealTimeNews10 pic.twitter.com/PsGuX5uitY
— Sam Kim (@BoiSamson) December 5, 2023
Residents were told to shelter in place.
LOCATION:9th St N / N Burlington St.
INCIDENT: Police and Fire Department Activity – Shelter in Place
IMPACT: Due to Police and Fire Department activity, community members are being asked to shelter in place in the area of 9th St. N and N Burlington St. until further notice.— Arlington Alert (@ArlingtonAlert) December 5, 2023
A large fire department response remains on scene, working to extinguish the resulting blaze.
“I think it blew up the entire duplex,” one neighbor told ARLnow. “I’m sure the family next door was evacuated before it blew up but they lost their home.”
Another neighbor said the explosion “literally shook my bed” and described an “acrid stench” afterward.
Paramedics were initially told to expect “multiple burn patients” after the explosion, but police said around 9:30 p.m. that officers on scene only “reported minor injuries with no one transported to the hospital.”
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It’s nothing short of a miracle that no one was injured.
Firefighters are on the scene working to extinguish the blaze.
At 11pm @fox5dc – the latest on this massive house explosion in Arlington.
We’ve learned police were trying to execute a search warrant.
We have two crews on the scene gathering details and talking with witnesses. pic.twitter.com/LZJdzHIPvj
— Kenneth Moton (@KennethMoton) December 5, 2023
It’s not known what happened to the suspect.