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Leicester 'blast': Six people taken to hospital Leicester explosion: Six hurt as blast destroys shop
(35 minutes later)
Six people have been taken to hospital after reports of an explosion and a fire in the Hinckley Road area of Leicester. Six people have been taken to hospital after an explosion destroyed a shop in Leicester.
Police declared a "major incident" after reports of a blast just after 19:00 GMT. Police declared a "major incident" after reports of a blast in Hinckley Road just after 19:00 GMT on Sunday.
A police spokesman said: "At this stage there is no indication this is terrorist related."A police spokesman said: "At this stage there is no indication this is terrorist related."
Carlisle Street and part of Hinckley Road have been closed and people are being asked to avoid the area. Two of the six in hospital are in critical condition and the others are "walking wounded", said the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust.
Two of the six people taken to hospital are in a critical condition and the other four are "walking wounded", according to the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. Carlisle Street and part of Hinckley Road have been closed and people are being asked to avoid the area. Electricity has been cut off for a number of properties.
Angel Namaala lives opposite the scene and told the BBC she had heard "this big thud, like an earthquake". Angel Namaala lives opposite the shop, believed to be a convenience store, and told the BBC she had heard "this big thud, like an earthquake".
She added: "The building had gone down and people were trying to help where they could by taking the bricks off. But the fire was getting bigger and bigger so people were told to leave the scene." "The building had gone down and people were trying to help where they could by taking the bricks off. But the fire was getting bigger and bigger so people were told to leave the scene," she said.
Six fire engines have been at the scene, Leicestershire Police said. Flames could be seen rising from a building in the middle of a parade of shops. Leicestershire Police said: "The cause of the explosion will be the subject of a joint investigation by the police and Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service."
BBC journalist John Alexander said the explosion had "blown debris and rubble across four lanes of traffic". Six fire engines were sent to the scene and a fire service spokeswoman said crews were involved in a "search and rescue" operation.
He said the emergency services had cordoned off about 60 houses in the area and people had been evacuated because of an "enormous" fire. The property was a two-floor building with a loft conversion that had suffered a "pancake collapse", she added.
'Pancake collapse' All of the casualties have been taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary and people have been asked not to attend A&E unless "absolutely necessary".
A Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said they were involved in a "search and rescue" operation. At the scene, BBC reporter Caroline Lowbridge
The affected property was a two-floor building with a loft conversion that had suffered a "pancake collapse", she said. Looking down Hinckley Road, past the cordon, there's a smoking gap where the shop once stood.
All of the casualties have been taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary, the ambulance service said, and crews remain at the scene. It exploded with such force that glass and debris were scattered across all four lanes of the dual carriageway.
People have been asked not to attend A&E services locally unless "absolutely necessary". It's a few hours since the blast, but the air is still thick with smoke.
Earlier, dozens of onlookers gathered - many with scarves over their mouths, or jumpers pulled up, to avoid breathing in fumes.
Witnesses said the destroyed shop had flats above it, and at least one of those injured is thought to have been a resident.
BBC journalist John Alexander said the emergency services had cordoned off about 60 houses in the area.
"I live about 80 yards away from where it happened," he said. "I felt a tremor, what felt like an earthquake shock and I heard a very low boom that sounded like a very, very fast release of pressure.
"I thought my house was going to fall down on top of me and all my neighbours have said the same thing."
Alpana Marwaha, who lives near the scene, told the BBC: "I heard a bang and the house shook. We could see the flames.Alpana Marwaha, who lives near the scene, told the BBC: "I heard a bang and the house shook. We could see the flames.
"You can still see the smoke coming, and the emergency services. There are a few shops there and it is surrounded by houses," she added. "You can still see the smoke coming, and the emergency services. There are a few shops there and it is surrounded by houses."
East Midlands Ambulance Service said that crews from the West Midlands and Yorkshire had responded to other 999 calls near the border while they dealt with the incident in Leicester.East Midlands Ambulance Service said that crews from the West Midlands and Yorkshire had responded to other 999 calls near the border while they dealt with the incident in Leicester.
Did you witness what appears to be a big explosion in the Hinckley Road area of Leicester? You must stay safe when you send any pictures to: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Did you witness what appears to be a big explosion in the Hinckley Road area of Leicester? You must stay safe when you send any pictures to: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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