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Leicester explosion: Five killed in sudden blast that destroyed shop and shook homes, police confirm Leicester explosion: Five killed in sudden blast that destroyed shop and shook homes, police confirm
(about 2 hours later)
Five people have died after an explosion and subsequent fire at a shop in Leicester, police have confirmed. Five people have died after an explosion and subsequent fire at a shop in Leicester, police have confirmed. 
Five others were taken to hospital and one remains in critical condition, Leicestershire Police said.Five others were taken to hospital and one remains in critical condition, Leicestershire Police said.
The sudden blast took place at 7pm on Sunday about a mile west of the city centre and saw police cordon off around 60 homes on Carlisle Street and Hinckley Road.The sudden blast took place at 7pm on Sunday about a mile west of the city centre and saw police cordon off around 60 homes on Carlisle Street and Hinckley Road.
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue sent six fire engines to the scene, and said the building had suffered a "pancake collapse".Leicestershire Fire and Rescue sent six fire engines to the scene, and said the building had suffered a "pancake collapse".
Firefighters worked through the night to dig through rubble and tackle the explosion's subsequent blaze.Firefighters worked through the night to dig through rubble and tackle the explosion's subsequent blaze.
Police believe there may still be people unaccounted for after the incident, and emergency crews are continuing a "search and rescue" operation at the site on Hinckley Road.Police believe there may still be people unaccounted for after the incident, and emergency crews are continuing a "search and rescue" operation at the site on Hinckley Road.
Residents reported hearing a low booming sound and feeling their houses shake when the explosion first occurred.Residents reported hearing a low booming sound and feeling their houses shake when the explosion first occurred.
The three-storey shop at the centre of events on Hinckley Road, with a residential flat situated above it, suffered a "pancake collapse" as a result of the incident, according to a fire and rescue spokesman.The three-storey shop at the centre of events on Hinckley Road, with a residential flat situated above it, suffered a "pancake collapse" as a result of the incident, according to a fire and rescue spokesman.
Superintendent Shane O'Neill, of Leicestershire Police, said: "There are four confirmed fatalities at this stage and a number of people still undergoing treatment in hospital. Superintendent Shane O'Neill, of Leicestershire Police, said: “There are now five confirmed fatalities and a number of people still undergoing treatment in hospital.
"The building consisted of a shop premises on the ground level and a two-storey flat above it. We believe there may be people who have not yet been accounted for and rescue efforts continue in order to locate any further casualties."The building consisted of a shop premises on the ground level and a two-storey flat above it. We believe there may be people who have not yet been accounted for and rescue efforts continue in order to locate any further casualties.
"Once the site is deemed to be safe a joint investigation with Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service will begin looking into the circumstances surrounding the incident, which at this stage is not being linked to terrorism." “Although the cause of the explosion is not yet known, there is no evidence that this is linked to terrorism.”
Andrew Brodie, the assistant chief fire officer for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, described the "tremendous effort" of crews as they continued to dig through rubble and tackle the blaze. Updating the media on the rescue operation, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service group manager Matt Cane said parts of the building were being shored up as the search continued.
Describing conditions at the blast scene as very hazardous, Mr Cane said: "Unfortunately during our operations over the past few hours we have located five bodies within the remains of the building.
"At this stage our search and rescue operations carry on in the hope that there's a possibility that people are trapped within any of the voids. But obviously as time goes on, that becomes less likely.
"We are slowly and methodically trying to make the area safe and get into the areas where we could potentially find further casualties."
Andrew Brodie, the assistant chief fire officer for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, earlier described the "tremendous effort" of crews as they continued to dig through rubble and tackle the blaze.
Mr Brodie also said on Twitter that work was continuing to ensure those directly affected by the incident were being looked after.Mr Brodie also said on Twitter that work was continuing to ensure those directly affected by the incident were being looked after.
He had earlier described conditions for firefighters as "arduous" on a "bitterly cold night".He had earlier described conditions for firefighters as "arduous" on a "bitterly cold night".
Matt Crane, group manager at Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, said firefighters would be on the site for "a number of days" and it was "still too early to say" what caused the explosion.
There was the potential for further collapse, and buildings on either side have sustained damage, he said.
He said: "On arrival there was a significant fire and significant building collapse, reports of numerous people possibly trapped within the building so crews have worked throughout the night to extinguish the fire.
"We now have got specialist search and rescue teams supported by search dogs on scene. We are trying to locate any further casualties that may be in the building. We still think this is a rescue phase of the operation.
"We are now working to get into different areas of the building using shoring techniques to see if we can locate anybody that may be alive in the building."
Residents living in the streets off Hinckley Road rushed to help those caught up in the blast, including a youngster who was heard crying in the rubble.Residents living in the streets off Hinckley Road rushed to help those caught up in the blast, including a youngster who was heard crying in the rubble.
Tony Hartley, who lives around 50 yards away from the blast site, told the Press Association: "Me and a friend lifted up a steel girder with about five other blokes and removed a bloke from underneath it.Tony Hartley, who lives around 50 yards away from the blast site, told the Press Association: "Me and a friend lifted up a steel girder with about five other blokes and removed a bloke from underneath it.
"We then turned round, saw rubble and heard a little boy crying. There was me and another bloke sifting through the rubble and we managed to pull the little boy out.""We then turned round, saw rubble and heard a little boy crying. There was me and another bloke sifting through the rubble and we managed to pull the little boy out."
Mr Hartley said the boy, thought to be aged between 10 and 13, was able to walk after being freed.Mr Hartley said the boy, thought to be aged between 10 and 13, was able to walk after being freed.
Lee Blankley, who lives in nearby Minehead Road, said his bed shook and "felt like it was going in the air" as the blast occurred.Lee Blankley, who lives in nearby Minehead Road, said his bed shook and "felt like it was going in the air" as the blast occurred.
"Then I had a phone call straight away from a neighbour," he said. "She was screaming. She had gone in shock. I ran down to the top of the street to see if I could help but there were already loads of people there.""Then I had a phone call straight away from a neighbour," he said. "She was screaming. She had gone in shock. I ran down to the top of the street to see if I could help but there were already loads of people there."
Witness Tahir Khan said: "I was driving past when it happened.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."
Speaking to Sky News, Kat Pattinson, who lives on the same road as the fire, said: "We are down the same street - about 500 metres from where the blast has taken place and our whole house shook.Speaking to Sky News, Kat Pattinson, who lives on the same road as the fire, said: "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."
One BBC journalist, John Alexander, said: "I live about 80 yards away from where it happened.One BBC journalist, John Alexander, said: "I live about 80 yards away from where it happened.
"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 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."I thought my house was going to fall down on top of me and all my neighbours have said the same thing.
"I saw one guy get pulled out and he'll be very lucky if he wasn't killed.""I saw one guy get pulled out and he'll be very lucky if he wasn't killed."
Leicester Fire and Rescue said a large rescue presence remains on the scene.
It also said Hinckley Road remains closed while emergency services "continue to search the scene for any live persons."
Police said an investigation will take place to establish the cause of the explosion.Police said an investigation will take place to establish the cause of the explosion.