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| Blast house mystery liquid attack | Blast house mystery liquid attack |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The London house at the centre of an explosion which left one man dead was targeted by vandals hours earlier, police said. | The London house at the centre of an explosion which left one man dead was targeted by vandals hours earlier, police said. |
| Officers were initially called after reports of a gas explosion in Stanley Road, South Harrow, on Wednesday night. | Officers were initially called after reports of a gas explosion in Stanley Road, South Harrow, on Wednesday night. |
| A purple liquid was poured through the letterbox about 10 hours before, which police say "may well be" linked to the blast. | A purple liquid was poured through the letterbox about 10 hours before, which police say "may well be" linked to the blast. |
| A girl aged 17 was probably the target of the attack, detectives believe. | A girl aged 17 was probably the target of the attack, detectives believe. |
| Gas explosion 'unlikely' | Gas explosion 'unlikely' |
| Two houses were completely destroyed and a third house was affected as a result of the blast, which detectives say is being treated as suspicious. | Two houses were completely destroyed and a third house was affected as a result of the blast, which detectives say is being treated as suspicious. |
| Det Ch Insp Colin Sutton said: "We still haven't ruled out a gas explosion but experts say it is unlikely to be the cause." | |
| The night before the explosion at the property, a local resident had complained about a gang of teenage girls gathered outside the house. | The night before the explosion at the property, a local resident had complained about a gang of teenage girls gathered outside the house. |
| Mr Sutton said detectives were looking into the complaint along with the letterbox incident. | Mr Sutton said detectives were looking into the complaint along with the letterbox incident. |
| "It was a liquid substance and it was purple in colour. | "It was a liquid substance and it was purple in colour. |
| "A strong line of inquiry for us at the moment is the dispute, this call at the address and of course the substance put through the letterbox. | "A strong line of inquiry for us at the moment is the dispute, this call at the address and of course the substance put through the letterbox. |
| "There may well be a connection between this liquid and the cause of the explosion that happened." | "There may well be a connection between this liquid and the cause of the explosion that happened." |
| Nearly 40 people have been moved to temporary accommodation | Nearly 40 people have been moved to temporary accommodation |
| He said the complaint was made on Wednesday morning and the liquid was poured between 0900 BST and 1100 BST. | He said the complaint was made on Wednesday morning and the liquid was poured between 0900 BST and 1100 BST. |
| He added the liquid was not reported to them until after the blast and that experts are yet to determine what the substance was. | He added the liquid was not reported to them until after the blast and that experts are yet to determine what the substance was. |
| The injured 17-year-old girl probably knew the teenagers who caused the disturbance, Mr Sutton said. | The injured 17-year-old girl probably knew the teenagers who caused the disturbance, Mr Sutton said. |
| "They are obviously people she knows, who were there to do her some harm... it (the attack) was targeted." | "They are obviously people she knows, who were there to do her some harm... it (the attack) was targeted." |
| The dead man's body was removed from the scene by the London Fire Brigade on Thursday night. | The dead man's body was removed from the scene by the London Fire Brigade on Thursday night. |
| About 40 people who live in Stanley Road have been taken to temporary accommodation as recovery work continues. | About 40 people who live in Stanley Road have been taken to temporary accommodation as recovery work continues. |
| Harrow Council said the road may not reopen for five or six days. | Harrow Council said the road may not reopen for five or six days. |
| The sound of the explosion could be heard in Northwood, more than five miles away. | The sound of the explosion could be heard in Northwood, more than five miles away. |