Small blast injures police at North Carolina motel

BURLINGTON, N.C. - Authorities say six officers and a suspect were taken to a hospital after a small explosion in a motel in North Carolina as one officer was testing substances he thought were illegal drugs.

Police say the injured are expected to recover, and several officers were taken to the emergency room so they could be decontaminated.

Investigators told media outlets that the officers found the substance as they served arrest warrants for identity theft and a probation violation against a suspect at a Motel 6 in Burlington around 9:30 p.m. Friday.

Authorities say the officer who was testing the substance when it exploded suffered eye injuries.

The FBI is helping Burlington Police with the investigation.

The motel was evacuated after the explosion.