Rozelle explosion site declared a crime scene and closed to the public
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Version 0 of 1. A stretch of Darling Street in the inner-Sydney suburb of Rozelle remains strewn with debris following a horrific explosion on Thursday that claimed three lives, with an exclusion zone to stay in place for at least the next two days. The area surrounding the convenience store, where an explosion about 4am on Thursday started a fire that spread to neighbouring units, has been declared a crime scene and closed to traffic and pedestrians. Senior police officer Gary Coffey said on Sunday the “very traumatic” incident was “certainly the worst tragedy that I’ve had to deal with”. “It’s a very difficult time for the police, particularly for the young police involved in this matter,” he said. The bodies of Bianka O’Brien, 31, and her infant son Jude were pulled from the burned remains of the Darling Street building on Friday. Another victim, 27-year old Chris Noble, was recovered on Thursday. Asbestos was present in some of the buildings affected by the fire but police say the risk of exposure remains “very low”. Tests at the site found no evidence of asbestos in the air on Saturday. Police said investigators were trying to narrow down the exclusion zone to as small an area as possible, but that delays on the busy high street should be expected “for a while”, at least until Tuesday. “We understand many locals have been, and continue to be, affected significantly by the ongoing operation,” Coffey said. “But we must stress the site is still dangerous and the situation is constantly changing. “While we want to reduce the impact for affected businesses and residents, public safety is of paramount concern.” The owner of the convenience store on Darling Street where the explosion is believed to have taken place, Adeel Khan, remains in a serious condition in hospital after rescue workers dug him from under rubble on Thursday morning. Detectives from Strike Force Baracchi have reportedly visited Khan in hospital, but police on Friday said he was not being treated as a suspect. Reports of a silver sedan driving from the scene on Thursday shortly before the explosion are still being investigated, police said. Noble’s room mate, Corey Cameron, who leapt to safety moments after the fire tore through his unit, described the night as a “bad dream”. “No one wants to be put through that,” a visibly emotional Cameron told the Nine Network. Cameron and another flatmate jumped onto their neighbour’s balcony and thought Noble would follow them. Noble’s body was found by emergency workers later that night. “He was always there for me,” Cameron said of his friend. “I don’t have family out here – he was my family, he was that brother.” |