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Man injured in Manchester house explosion arrested Police arrest man injured in Manchester house explosion
(about 4 hours later)
A man recovering in hospital after a blast destroyed two houses has been arrested on suspicion of causing an explosion, police said. Police have arrested a man following an explosion at a house in Manchester, which left at least five people injured.
The man, 33, was injured along with another man, who is in a critical condition in hospital, after the explosion ripped through two terrace houses in Blackley, Manchester, at about 12.30pm on Monday. Fire crews were called to a partially collapsed end-of-terrace property in the suburb of Blackley, in the north of the city, at 12.40pm on Monday.
The blast devastated both properties and left neighbouring homes damaged. The explosion blew off the top half of a redbrick terrace and partially destroyed the neighbouring house, also causing damage to surrounding properties. Greater Manchester fire and rescue Service said they were treating the incident as a suspected gas explosion.
Three other people were treated at the scene for minor injuries. The condition of the man under arrest is described as stable. A 33-year-old man, who is in a stable condition in hospital following the blast, has been arrested on suspicion of causing an explosion to endanger life.
The cause of the blast is still under investigation. North West ambulance service said on Monday that five people were injured in the incident, two of them seriously. Of the two, one is in a critical condition in hospital, and the other is the suspect.
DI Dave Sinclair, of Greater Manchester police (GMP), said: “This was a devastating incident, which has left two people in hospital with serious injuries and destroyed part of a terraced street. DI Dave Sinclair said it had been “a devastating incident”, but that good progress was being made in the investigation into the cause of the explosion.
“Good progress is being made as we continue to investigate the cause of the explosion, but we still need to hear from anyone who believes they have any information about what happened. “But we still need to hear from anyone who believes they have any information about what happened,” he added. “The house is now being treated as a crime scene. Given the problematic working conditions, it may be several days before we will be able to return the street to normality.”
“The house is now being treated as a crime scene. Given the problematic working conditions, it may be several days before we will be able to return the street to normality. Speaking to Manchester Evening News following the incident on Monday, neighbours compared the sound of the explosion to a bomb. “I went to the street and it looks like it has taken out an entire house,” one man said. “There were loads of police and fire crews there.”
“I would like to thank the community for their continued cooperation as police, the local authority and other emergency services remain at the scene to carry on with the investigation. A neighbour said: “The house shook; we thought someone had crashed a car into our house, so we went out to see and it was that bang.”
“My officers will be on hand in the local area and will be updating members of the public with information as we progress this investigation.”
The fire service said five crews were called to the partially collapsed end-of-terrace house on Monday.
Crews assessed the scene and carried out searches of the area. Merl Forrer, incident commander for Greater Manchester fire and rescue service, said: “The building is partially collapsed and we are working effectively with partners to determine a cause of the explosion.
“The road the property is on is currently closed and we advise people to avoid the area if possible.”
Firefighters also rescued a kitten from the debris of the house. The fire service posted photos of the kitten on Twitter:Firefighters also rescued a kitten from the debris of the house. The fire service posted photos of the kitten on Twitter:
Firefighters have rescued this little kitten from the debris at the house explosion in Blackley. It's being very well looked after. pic.twitter.com/W1qQHimKXIFirefighters have rescued this little kitten from the debris at the house explosion in Blackley. It's being very well looked after. pic.twitter.com/W1qQHimKXI