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The incident is believed to have taken place near the Hinckley Road area

Five people are now confirmed to have died following an explosion and fire at a building in Leicester last night. Five others were taken to hospital, one of whom remains in a critical condition. Emergency services have worked through the night and are still hunting for survivors. The cause of the explosion has not yet been confirmed. Leicestershire Police Superintendent Shane O’Neill said: “We know the explosion and subsequent fire will have caused considerable concern to residents and business owners in the area and we would like to thank people for their support and patience while teams continue with their work at the scene. “There are now five confirmed fatalities and a number of people still undergoing treatment in hospital. The building consisted of a shop premises on the ground level and a two-storey flat above it. We believe there may be people who have not yet been accounted for and rescue efforts continue in order to locate any further casualties. “Although the cause of the explosion is not yet known, there is no evidence that this is linked to terrorism.”

Heroic locals clambered through the debris, attempting to lift the fissured remains of the building to rescue anyone who may have been caught up in the catastrophic event. Locals have claimed the shop will have been open at the time of the incident – but it is unclear how many people were caught up in the explosion. Leicester Police said in a statement shortly after the blast: "Emergency services are dealing with a fire in Hinckley Rd, Leicester. "Incident will be the subject of a joint investigation with the fire service. "Public asked not to speculate but at this stage there is no indication this is terrorist related."


The main-road facing area of the residential district is mostly made up of corner shops and takeaways – with homes on the upper floors. The rescue work at the scene of the former supermarket in Hinckley Road has been temporarily suspended due to the structural integrity of a neighbouring building, and the search and rescue work will resume shortly. The rescue work at the scene of the former supermarket in Hinckley Road has been temporarily suspended due to the structural integrity of a neighbouring building, and the search and rescue work will resume shortly. Hinckley Road, from its junction with Bolton Road to its junction with Woodville Road, remains closed in both directions and motorists are advised to avoid the area and listen to local traffic reports for up-to-date information on road closures.


Power supplies to a number of homes in the immediate area were affected by the incident and by lunchtime today will be restored to all but a handful of homes. Matt Cane, Group Manager from Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Crews have worked through the night, alongside Police, East Midlands Ambulance Service and other partner agencies, tackling the fire and searching the scene in order to locate any further survivors or casualties. “There are still pockets of fire in the basement area of the building. We have a significant number of specialist search and rescue teams who are supported by two search dogs, and this level of resourcing is likely to be in place throughout the day. “It may be some days yet before we will be able to establish the probable cause of the explosion.” Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, East Midlands Ambulance Service and Leicestershire Police were called to the scene at about 7pm last night and a major operation commenced with help from Leicester City Council which has provided a temporary rest centre at St Anne’s Church in Letchworth Road. The City Council have experts on hand at the church to help those affected and anyone needing help or further information should make their way there.

SWNS The huge blast could be seen across the surrounding area

Hinckley Road road has been closed as a result of the blast between the junctions of Mostyn Street and Carlisle Street. Liz Kendall, the Labour MP for Leicester West, described the explosion as “terrible news”. She added: “I am in touch with police as situation develops, thoughts and prayers with all those affected and with our amazing emergency services” Kat Pattison, a nearby resident, claimed her whole house shook as the blast ripped through the shop. Speaking to the Guardian, she said: “There was a huge bang and the whole house shook.

“If there had been no bang, I would have thought it was an earthquake. I couldn’t believe it. “It looks like the fire is burning under control but there’s still a lot of smoke. "The shop would have still been open so it’s awful. "I will be really surprised if anyone has come out of it alive and people could have also been hurt at the bus stop.”

FB/GOOGLE Before and after images show how the building has been decimated by the blast