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Katie Hopkins and Nick Griffin have been slammed after posting "disgusting" tweets suggesting the Leicester explosion could be linked to terrorism.

Former Apprentice candidate Ms Hopkins and ex-British National Party leader Mr Griffin both took to social media following Sunday evening's deadly blast.

They appeared to link the horrific incident to terrorist activity - despite police asking people not to "speculate about the circumstances" surrounding it.

Mr Griffin was condemned for his "hateful" and "insulting" comments after linking the incident to a “Jihadi bomb factory”, the Leicester Mercury reports.

(Image: Getty Images)

(Image: Nick Griffin/Twitter) (Image: Jason Senior / SWNS.com)

The ex-member of European Parliament, who was president of BNP between 1999 and 2014, took to Twitter shortly after the blast, which killed five.

He shared a Mail Online article about the incident and said: “Could just be a gas accident. But, there again, Leicester is one of the most colonised cities in England, so a Jihadi bomb factory might just have gone up!”

He was swiftly lambasted by some Leicester residents and social media users.

One said: “This is my street, my community and my people and you know NOTHING about us.

"This is a diverse area with more nationalities living in harmony than ANYWHERE else in the UK.

"Leicester is an example to the rest of the country in how to get it right!”

(Image: Tristan Potter / SWNS.com)

(Image: Tristan Potter / SWNS.com) (Image: PA Graphics)

Another tweeted: "I live in Leicester and we all get along just fine thanks, Nick!"

And a third declared his comments were "despicable".

TV personality Ms Hopkins also tweeted about the explosion, making similar comments apparently speculating about the cause.

She wrote: "Gas explosion. Right up there with lone wolf. And ‘from former Yugoslavia’ #Leicester"

Later she added: "It was proven to be a gas explosion BEFORE the explosion happened. Do keep up. #Leicester"

While one Twitter user branded her "disrespectful" and accused her of "hatemongering", others deemed her remarks "vile".

(Image: Matt Cane/BPM Media)

(Image: Tristan Potter / SWNS.com) (Image: BBC)

Mike Stuchbery questioned what person "hears of these things and immediately assumes a terrorist attack".

Five people have died following the explosion in Hinckley Road, which destroyed a shop and two-storey flat and sent flames shooting into the air.

A further five were taken to hospital, one of whom is in a critical condition.

Leicestershire Police has said multiple times that there is no evidence to link the incident to terrorism at this stage.

A force spokesperson said after the blast: "We would ask that the media and public do not speculate about the circumstances surrounding the incident but at this stage there is no indication this is terrorist related."

Meanwhile, Leicester city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby previously said: "We can say it was not terror related."

The mayor has added that he is aware of Mr Griffin’s comment, as well as similar speculation online.

(Image: Jason Senior / SWNS.com)

(Image: PA)

Speaking to the Mercury, Sir Peter said: “To try and use it [the incident] to support nasty right-wing rumours is disgusting.

“It has all the appearance of a tragic accident and trying to turn that into political capital is disgusting.

“The people in that area showed their common humanity.

“The people who rushed to help were of all different nationalities, who rushed to the scene to do their bit.”

Fayyaz Suleman, chairman of the Leicester Council of Faiths, has also condemned the comment from Mr Griffin and similar 'politically-charged' discussions linked to the incident.

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He said: “We would challenge anybody who is using this tragic incident for a political purpose.

“The facts have not been confirmed yet. Whatever the source of the explosion, the fact of the matter is we stand together.”

A member of Leicester Stand Up To Racism has also responded to Mr Griffin and Ms Hopkins's comments, among others, following the explosion.

David Wainwright alleged: "They instantly tried to racialise this... it's disgusting actually. We would offer our condolences to the people involved."

No information about the deceased victims has yet been released. However, a mum and her two young sons are feared to be among those killed in the blast.