Rozelle blast: Store owner Adeel Khan set up system of fuel containers inside shop, police allege

Updated

Police have alleged the owner of an inner-western Sydney convenience store destroyed in a deadly explosion this month set up an elaborate system of fuel containers inside the shop.

The convenience store as well as surrounding flats on Darling Street in Rozelle were destroyed by the blast and fire on September 4.

Bianka O'Brien, 31, her 11-month-old son Jude and their neighbour Chris Noble, 27, all died in the blaze.

Store owner Adeel Kahn, 44, has been arrested and charged with three counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder.

Police alleged Kahn deliberately set fire to the business to claim insurance money.

A police statement of facts said Khan purchased close to 40 litres of petrol in the days leading up to the blast and fire.

Inside the rubble of the store, officers found numerous small containers of fuel tied together with strips of cloth with an improvised ignition device.

Police said when Khan was also found in the rubble at the time of the blast, he repeatedly told paramedics: "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

Khan is alleged to have been heavily in debt and in recent months twice upgraded his insurance coverage.

The counts of attempted murder were in relation to Mr Noble's flatmates.

Police also charged Khan on three counts of manslaughter as alternative charges to the murder counts.

He faced a bedside court hearing at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital on Tuesday afternoon and was refused bail. He will face court again in October.

Khan is being treated in hospital for injuries he suffered in the blast. He was found seriously injured in the store on the night of the explosion.

He has also been charged with 17 other counts relating to damaging property, including one count of setting fire for financial gain.

State Crime Command's Property Crime Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Murray Chapman said it was a long and difficult investigation.

"This has been a painstaking, thorough and tedious investigation," he said.

"There were problems in accessing the crime scene, unusually long delays for police and we will be alleging that evidence has been found at the crime scene."

Family 'grateful and appreciative' of police effort

Fire and rescue crews combed through the rubble for two days to recover the bodies of the three killed in the blast.

Darling Street remained closed for weeks after the incident and businesses are still trying to recover.

Mr Noble's family said police informed them on Tuesday morning about the arrest.

Mr Noble's mother Liz Noble told the ABC the family was grateful and appreciative of how the police conducted their investigation into her son's death.

Chris Noble was farewelled publicly 10 days ago at a memorial service in Canowindra in central New South Wales.

A private cremation was held last week.

Topics: police, murder-and-manslaughter, rozelle-2039

First posted