LONDON – A man and woman have died and three others have been injured in a "suspicious" explosion at a house in Bristol, police say. Avon and Somerset Police were called to a house in Sterncourt Road,...
Frenchay, for a domestic-related incident minutes before an explosion happened. Three people - a man, a woman and a child - were also taken to hospital for minor injuries. A major incident was declared and officers cordoned off the area and evacuated nearby residents from their homes.
The force said the blast was "suspicious" but was not being treated as a terrorist incident. In a press conference, Supt Matt Ebbs said officers were also carrying out inquiries in Speedwell in the city, at a property linked to the man who died. He said police were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident but said it remained a "complex and sensitive investigation". The force has not yet confirmed what caused the explosion.
PA Media Superintendent Matt Ebbs wears a police uniform, holding his hat under his arm. He holds a written statement as he reads to the press standing outside a building. PA Media Supt Matt Ebbs spoke to press about the investigation
Police said the cordon will be in place until "at least the evening" to protect the public and allow inquiries to be carried out. That has included specialist searches by the British Army's Explosive Ordnance Disposal, as a precaution. There was not believed to be any significant damage to other properties. Ebbs added that public safety is the priority and people will see more police patrols in the area.
Bradley Shepherd, who lives on Bradeston Grove, said he heard a "large explosion noise" at about the time emergency services were called. He said: "I sort of jumped out of bed to see what was going on”. "There was nothing immediately that I could see, but within minutes the police were arriving, attending the property. We had all emergency services there within 10 minutes, armed police. Within maybe about 15 or 20 minutes, once they had it cordoned off, they were instructing all the neighbourhood, the majority are probably 60-plus years of age, to actually evacuate their properties and take residence in the local Harvester [restaurant]". Residents were moved from the restaurant to the nearby Begbrook Social Club.
The College of Policing defines a major incident as "an event or situation with a range of serious consequences which requires special arrangements to be implemented by one or more emergency responder agencies". (BBC)
