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Explosion death could be 'murder' Explosion death 'could be murder'
(about 2 hours later)
A man killed in an explosion at a house in north-west London could have been murdered, Scotland Yard has said.A man killed in an explosion at a house in north-west London could have been murdered, Scotland Yard has said.
A second man and a teenage girl were also hurt in the blast which tore through three houses in Stanley Road, South Harrow, on Wednesday night.A second man and a teenage girl were also hurt in the blast which tore through three houses in Stanley Road, South Harrow, on Wednesday night.
Fire crews are using specialist listening equipment to find anyone else who may be trapped in rubble.
Police say they have not ruled out murder and said the cause of the explosion had "yet to be established".Police say they have not ruled out murder and said the cause of the explosion had "yet to be established".
About 30 people were placed in temporary accommodation after the blast, which destroyed two houses and seriously damaged a third in the Victorian terrace. Fire crews are trying to ensure the stability of the collapsed properties before removing the man's body.
The sound of the blast could be heard as far away as Northwood, more than five miles away. Initially they feared other people may be trapped under the rubble.
A London Ambulance Service spokesman said the 26-year-old man who suffered a serious head injury and the 17-year-old girl, suffering from 20% burns, were taken to hospital.
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Police attend the scene of the explosionPolice attend the scene of the explosion
A London Ambulance Service spokesman said a 26-year-old man suffering from a serious head injury and a 17-year-old girl, suffering from 20% burns, had been taken to hospital. The blast completely destroyed two houses and seriously damaged a third in the Victorian terrace.
Six fire engines and 30 firefighters were called to the scene and police sealed off surrounding roads and set up a cordon. A spokesman for Harrow Council said 29 people, who were evacuated from homes in Stanley Road, on Wednesday night will remain in temporary accommodation in local hotels for the second night.
John Gaffney, station manager for London Fire Brigade, said: "At this point we are assessing if anyone else was involved and we are still searching with specialist listening equipment." The sound of the explosion could be heard as far away as Northwood, more than five miles away.
It could be some time before we know exactly what has happened National Grid spokeswoman class="" href="/1/hi/england/london/7389204.stm">'We heard voice from rubble' Recounting how he spotted the injured teeanger, Andrew Haynes, 44, said: "There was a girl's arm just poking through the rubble and there was a beam on her. It looked like the ceiling had fallen on her.
The process would continue for a number of hours, he said, but if no sounds were heard the building would be made safe and police sniffer dogs brought in. "It took us about 15 minutes to get to her."
The man who suffered head injuries had been released from hospital, he added. 'Feared for life'
A spokeswoman for Harrow Council said about 30 people, including some children, had to be evacuated from homes in Stanley Road and taken to a Royal British Legion building nearby. Mike Leahy, 42, who lived in one of the damaged properties, said he survived because he was at his ex-wife's house.
Nearly 30 people have been left homeless - picture by Anita Aldridge "Usually I'm in at that time. I'm lucky to be alive."
"We are sorting out emergency accommodation for everybody. Some people have medical requirements and we are making sure they are attended to." Paul Redmond, 42, whose front door was blown off due to the blast's impact, said "I was terrified. I feared for my life. I've never heard a bang like it.
Residents of nearby streets were held at police cordons for a number of hours before being allowed home late on Wednesday night. There was a girl's arm just poking through the rubble and there was a beam on her Andrew Haynes class="" href="/1/hi/england/london/7389204.stm">'We heard voice from rubble'
Gas engineers are at the scene trying to establish the cause of the blast. "I did not know what it was, the kids came running in to me screaming. Bits of rubble were still falling off next door."
A National Grid spokeswoman said: "They will carry out some checks. It could be some time before we know exactly what has happened." Six fire engines and 30 firefighters were called to the scene. Police sealed off surrounding roads and set up a cordon.
Neighbour Dan Llewelyn-Hall said the explosion blew out the windows and doors of his own home. Gas engineers were at the scene overnight checking the supply pipes.
"I looked out the window and the two houses were completely razed to the ground," he said. A National Grid spokeswoman said: "We found no trace of a gas leak in our system but we will continue to have a very small presence on site."
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