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| Major incident declared after 'massive explosion' shakes homes in Leicester | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Two people are in a critical condition after a suspected explosion destroyed a shop and the flat above it in Leicester. | Two people are in a critical condition after a suspected explosion destroyed a shop and the flat above it in Leicester. |
| Police declared a “major incident” following the blast, which took place about a mile west of the city centre. | Police declared a “major incident” following the blast, which took place about a mile west of the city centre. |
| Residents reported hearing a low booming sound and feeling their houses shake. | Residents reported hearing a low booming sound and feeling their houses shake. |
| 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. |
| The police evacuated 60 homes and cordoned off Carlisle Street and a section of Hinckley Road. | |
| Ambulance officials said six people were injured, two critically. They were taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary and doctors remained at the scene, they added. | Ambulance officials said six people were injured, two critically. They were taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary and doctors remained at the scene, they added. |
| Leicestershire Police said there were no indications of terrorist activity. They advised people to stay away from the area. | Leicestershire Police said there were no indications of terrorist activity. They advised people to stay away from the area. |
| Photographs showed wreckage of a shop on Hinckley Road, a major arterial route into the city, engulfed in flames. People were seen in footage trying to move pieces of rubble outside the building as blue lights flashed. | |
| 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 rubble. | 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 rubble. |
| 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”. |
| Electricity supply was cut off for a number of properties in the Hinckley Road area while emergency services dealt with the incident, Leicestershire police said in a statement. | Electricity supply was cut off for a number of properties in the Hinckley Road area while emergency services dealt with the incident, Leicestershire police said in a statement. |
| 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. | When he came out of his house, he saw rubble lying across four lanes of the road. |
| 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. |
| Kat Pattinson who lives on the same road as the fire told Sky News: “We are down the same street – about 500 metres from where the blast has taken place and our whole house shook. | Kat Pattinson who lives on the same road as the fire told Sky News: “We are down the same street – about 500 metres from where the blast has taken place and our whole house shook. |
| “We checked on our children first and foremost and then we went outside. | “We checked on our children first and foremost and then we went outside. |
| “There is just an awful lot of smoke here at the moment and the whole area is cordoned off.” | “There is just an awful lot of smoke here at the moment and the whole area is cordoned off.” |
| Eye-witness Tahir Khan said: “I was driving past when it happened. | Eye-witness Tahir Khan said: “I was driving past when it happened. |
| “Loads of people were gathered and there was gas and flames coming out of the building. | “Loads of people were gathered and there was gas and flames coming out of the building. |
| “I looked on the road and half the building was on the road. Literally the whole of the side of the building had been blown out. | “I looked on the road and half the building was on the road. Literally the whole of the side of the building had been blown out. |
| “I couldn’t believe it, it was like a Hollywood movie.” | “I couldn’t believe it, it was like a Hollywood movie.” |
| 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.” |
| Anyone concerned about family members is asked to call 101. | Anyone concerned about family members is asked to call 101. |