Woman and man killed and three others injured in ‘suspicious’ blast

A man and woman have died following a “suspicious” explosion at a house in Bristol, which sent three people to hospital.

Avon and Somerset Police declared a major incident following an explosion at an address in Sterncourt Road at around 6.30am on Sunday.

After the incident, 3 people, including a child, were slightly injured and were taken to hospital. It was learned that five people were in the same building at the time of the explosion.

The families of the two people who lost their lives are being supported by specially trained police teams.

Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident. Officers are also searching property linked to the man who died at Speedwell.

Police said the cause of the explosion was being treated as suspicious, but it was not considered a suspected terrorist incident.

In his update on Sunday, Inspector Matt Ebbs told reporters: “At around 6.17am we received a call to respond to a domestic incident at a residential address on Sterncourt Road.

“Officers were dispatched to the scene but shortly before they arrived there was an explosion at the property at 6.30am.

“A woman and a man died at the address and we are treating the explosion as suspicious.

Three slightly injured people, a man, a woman and a child, were taken to hospital and treated.

Emergency response was carried out around Sterncourt Road and a police cordon was established on roads near the property.

In addition to the ambulance and bomb squad, police cars and pickup trucks were also present. Those living in the area cordoned off by the police were evacuated to a temporary rest center.

It is estimated that there was no significant damage to surrounding properties.

Residents said the neighborhood was generally quiet and friendly; Bradley Shepherd, who lives in nearby Bradeston Grove, said he “jumped out of bed” when he heard a “big bang” at the time of the explosion.

He told the BBC that police and armed police would arrive at the property “within a few minutes”.

He added that the entire neighborhood was told to vacate their property within 15-20 minutes and was directed to the local Harvester.

Officers will patrol the area “to provide reassurance and advice” as a cordon is expected to remain in place until at least Sunday evening.

The Marshals Service defines a major incident as “an event or situation with a variety of serious consequences that requires the application of special regulations by one or more emergency response units.”