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Major incident declared after ‘massive explosion’ shakes homes in Leicester Major incident declared after ‘massive explosion’ shakes homes in Leicester
(35 minutes later)
Police have declared a “major incident” after reports of a large explosion at supermarket in Leicester.Police have declared a “major incident” after reports of a large explosion at supermarket in Leicester.
Residents living close to a Londis on Hinkley Road, about a mile from the city centre, reported their houses shaking with the force of a blast. Residents living near a row of shops on Hinkley Road, about a mile from the city centre, reported their houses shaking with force from a blast.
Ambulance officials said they had taken four patients to the Leicester Royal Infirmary and doctors remained at the scene. Ambulance officials said four patients were in a critical condition and had been taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary. Doctors remained at the scene, they added.
Police advised people to stay away from the area. Leicestershire Police said there are currently no indications of terrorist activity. They advised people to stay away from the area.
Photographs of the shop showed flames erupting from the roof and smoke billowing into the road. Photographs showed a shop on the major road engulfed in flames. People were seen in footage trying to move pieces of rubble outside the building as sirens wailed.
People were seen in footage trying to move pieces of rubble outside the building as sirens blared. A fire and rescue service spokeswoman said the emergency services were conducting a search and rescue operation and it was unclear if people were trapped in the wreckage.
A fire and rescue service spokeswoman said: “This is a search and rescue at the moment. It is unknown if people are injured or trapped.”
She said the two floor building had a loft conversion that had suffered a “pancake collapse”.She said the two floor building had a loft conversion that had suffered a “pancake collapse”.
The emergency services said they were called to reports of a blast shortly after 7pm and six fire engines were sent to the scene.The emergency services said they were called to reports of a blast shortly after 7pm and six fire engines were sent to the scene.
John Alexander, a local resident and journalist who was evacuated from the area told the BBC, the shop and the flat above it had been ”completely flattened” by the explosion.John Alexander, a local resident and journalist who was evacuated from the area told the BBC, the shop and the flat above it had been ”completely flattened” by the explosion.
He was sitting in his front room when he felt “a huge shock” that sounded like a ”rush of air”, he said.He was sitting in his front room when he felt “a huge shock” that sounded like a ”rush of air”, he said.
When he came out of his house, he saw rubble lying across four lanes of the road. A cordon had been set up and around 60 houses have been evacuated, he said. When he came out of his house, he saw rubble lying across four lanes of the road. A cordon had been set up and around 60 houses were evacuated, he said.
People had been drinking in a pub near the shop and smoking in a nearby bus shelter at the time of the blast.People had been drinking in a pub near the shop and smoking in a nearby bus shelter at the time of the blast.
Leicestershire Police said in a statement: ”There has been a major incident on Hinckley Road, Leicester. All emergency services are currently dealing with this. Carlisle Street and part of Hinckley Road have been closed Please avoid the area.”Leicestershire Police said in a statement: ”There has been a major incident on Hinckley Road, Leicester. All emergency services are currently dealing with this. Carlisle Street and part of Hinckley Road have been closed Please avoid the area.”
MP for Leicester West, Liz Kendall said on Twitter: “Terrible news, am in touch with police as situation develops, thoughts and prayers with all those affected and with our amazing emergency services.”MP for Leicester West, Liz Kendall said on Twitter: “Terrible news, am in touch with police as situation develops, thoughts and prayers with all those affected and with our amazing emergency services.”
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