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| Leicester explosion: Four people confirmed dead | Leicester explosion: Four people confirmed dead |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Four people have died in an explosion at a shop in Leicester, police have confirmed. | |
| Leicestershire Police declared a "major incident" after reports of a blast in Hinckley Road at about 19:00 GMT on Sunday. | |
| Four other people remain in hospital, one with serious injuries, the force said. | |
| Supt Shane O'Neill said police believe there may be more people unaccounted for and rescue efforts were continuing. | |
| At this stage the explosion is not being linked to terrorism, he added. | |
| The building consisted of a shop premises on the ground level and a two-storey flat above it. | |
| Supt O'Neill said: "It is a dangerous scene so trained officers from the fire service and police took over as soon as possible. | |
| "I can't say at this stage [what may have caused it] but it is a joint investigation between the fire service and the police and the priority is to make the area safe." | |
| Angel Namaala, who lives opposite the shop, told the BBC she heard "this big thud, like an earthquake". | |
| She said: "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." | |
| Hinckley Road, from its junction with Bolton Road to its junction with Woodville Road, remains closed in both directions and motorists are advised to avoid the area. |