A seventh suspect has been arrested in connection with last month’s explosion that destroyed a building in Leicester, killing five people.

Police said a man aged in his 30s from the east Midlands was in police custody awaiting questioning after being arrested on Tuesday afternoon on suspicion of manslaughter.

In a statement confirming details of the arrest, officers appealed for help from any witnesses with a dashcam who were driving towards Leicester city centre on the A47 between 5.30pm and 7.15pm on Sunday 25 February.

A shop and a two-storey flat were destroyed by the explosion, which occurred at about 7pm.

Appealing for drivers to come forward, DCI Michelle Keen said: “Any footage on your dashcam may be vital, no matter how insignificant you may think it is. Contact us and let us make that decision. Any information may be key.”

Three men appeared in court on Monday charged with the manslaughter of the five people who died.

Arkan Ali, 37, Hawkar Hassan, 32, and Aram Kurd, 33, also face a separate count of arson with intent to endanger life. They have yet to enter pleas and are due back in court on 3 April.

The other three men have been released by police pending further investigations.

Four of the people killed in the blast have been named as Shane Rajoobeer, 18, Sean Rajoobeer, 17, Leah Beth Reek, 18, who was Shane’s girlfriend, and Viktorija Ljevleva, 22.

The fifth person killed in the explosion on Hinckley Road is believed to have been Shane and Sean’s 46-year-old mother, Mary.