This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18606289#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Oldham explosion: Jamie Heaton killed 'as he watched television' | Oldham explosion: Jamie Heaton killed 'as he watched television' |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| A two-year-old boy who died in a suspected gas explosion in Oldham was watching television when the blast occurred next door, police said. | A two-year-old boy who died in a suspected gas explosion in Oldham was watching television when the blast occurred next door, police said. |
| Jamie Heaton was killed in the blast in Buckley Street, Shaw, and neighbour Andrew Partington, 27, suffered severe burns and is being treated in hospital. | Jamie Heaton was killed in the blast in Buckley Street, Shaw, and neighbour Andrew Partington, 27, suffered severe burns and is being treated in hospital. |
| Police are treating the death as suspicious and say it is a "homicide investigation." | Police are treating the death as suspicious and say it is a "homicide investigation." |
| Officers say they have "significant questions" for Mr Partington. | Officers say they have "significant questions" for Mr Partington. |
| Assistant Chief Constable Steve Heywood, from Greater Manchester Police, said: "We have had some information to suggest it may not be accidental so we are treating it as a suspicious death and therefore a homicide investigation is undertaken." | |
| Domestic incident | Domestic incident |
| Police are investigating reports of a domestic argument involving the injured man on Monday evening, although this was not reported to police at the time. | Police are investigating reports of a domestic argument involving the injured man on Monday evening, although this was not reported to police at the time. |
| Mr Heywood said: "We have not made any arrests but we have a significant number of witnesses that we want to interview. | Mr Heywood said: "We have not made any arrests but we have a significant number of witnesses that we want to interview. |
| "At this time, I would not say we have an exact cause for the fire or an exact reason for why this happened but that will form part of this investigation." | "At this time, I would not say we have an exact cause for the fire or an exact reason for why this happened but that will form part of this investigation." |
| Police said Mr Partington was still under sedation and unconscious at Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester. | Police said Mr Partington was still under sedation and unconscious at Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester. |
| Mr Heywood said it was only by chance that Jamie's mother was not in the house when the blast happened. | Mr Heywood said it was only by chance that Jamie's mother was not in the house when the blast happened. |
| He said: "The victim, Jamie, was in the house, we believe the front room, watching TV and his mother had just slipped out into the back yard, hanging out washing. | He said: "The victim, Jamie, was in the house, we believe the front room, watching TV and his mother had just slipped out into the back yard, hanging out washing. |
| "What that mother must be going through must be unbelievable, so our hearts go out to her." | "What that mother must be going through must be unbelievable, so our hearts go out to her." |
| House numbers 9 and 11 were destroyed in Tuesday morning's explosion and several other houses were also damaged. | House numbers 9 and 11 were destroyed in Tuesday morning's explosion and several other houses were also damaged. |
| The scene was described as "catastrophic" by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service's station manager Dean Nankivell. He said gas was a likely cause of the blast. | The scene was described as "catastrophic" by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service's station manager Dean Nankivell. He said gas was a likely cause of the blast. |
| Mr Heywood compared the scene to something like the IRA's bombing of Manchester. | |
| "This looks like there has been a bomb. The devastation is absolutely tremendous. Our thoughts go out to those families that have been displaced." | |
| Jackie Hunter, who lives six doors down from the explosion, said she felt her house lift up. | Jackie Hunter, who lives six doors down from the explosion, said she felt her house lift up. |
| She said: "I jumped up, my front door had gone in, so I ran out and dialled 999. | She said: "I jumped up, my front door had gone in, so I ran out and dialled 999. |
| "It was just so frightening, the noise was horrendous, I've got nothing at the moment, just the clothes I'm currently stood in." | "It was just so frightening, the noise was horrendous, I've got nothing at the moment, just the clothes I'm currently stood in." |
| 'Nobody left behind' | 'Nobody left behind' |
| Oldham Council set up a rest centre at Crompton House School in Rochdale Road for up to 80 residents removed from their homes. | Oldham Council set up a rest centre at Crompton House School in Rochdale Road for up to 80 residents removed from their homes. |
| A relief fund, which will help to cover the cost of providing immediate help to people, has been set up by the charity Forever Manchester on behalf of Greater Manchester local authorities. | |
| A Red Cross spokesman said nobody stayed there overnight, with people choosing to go to hotels or stay with relatives. | A Red Cross spokesman said nobody stayed there overnight, with people choosing to go to hotels or stay with relatives. |
| Councillor Jean Stretton, from Oldham Council, said the next immediate task was to assess the extent of the damage to properties which have not been completely destroyed. | Councillor Jean Stretton, from Oldham Council, said the next immediate task was to assess the extent of the damage to properties which have not been completely destroyed. |
| She said: "There will be people who will not be going back, more (properties) could be unsafe, so will either be demolished or repaired. | She said: "There will be people who will not be going back, more (properties) could be unsafe, so will either be demolished or repaired. |
| "What we are doing is looking to provide people with some financial support, we are looking to support them with insurance claims but the council will do what needs to be done." | "What we are doing is looking to provide people with some financial support, we are looking to support them with insurance claims but the council will do what needs to be done." |
| She added: "In the face of such adversity everyone has pulled together in a fantastic community effort." | |
| National Grid said there was a report of a "gas escape" at 10:40 BST in the Edmund Street and Buckley Street area of Shaw. | National Grid said there was a report of a "gas escape" at 10:40 BST in the Edmund Street and Buckley Street area of Shaw. |
| The company added: "This was shortly followed by another call to report that there had been an explosion." | The company added: "This was shortly followed by another call to report that there had been an explosion." |