As it happened: Five people killed in Leicester building explosion

Summary

Five people confirmed dead in building explosion
Explosion reported at about 19:00 on Sunday
Shop and flat above suffered a 'pancake collapse'
Five people remain in hospital with one in a critical condition
Cause of the blast is unknown but it is not thought to be terrorism related
Emergency services continue to search for survivors
Updates on Monday 26 February 2018

Live Reporting

Chris Fawcett, Maryam Qaiser and Gavin Bevis

'Debris thrown everywhere' by explosionpublished at 09:43 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018
BBC Radio Leicester
Professional photographer Jason Senior said it was an "odd scene" when he arrived at the site of the explosion last night.
He said he was out of the house "straight after the explosion" and got there "just before the first fire engine arrived".
"Police were already there moving everyone back, debris had been thrown everywhere... it was an odd sight really," he added.
Image source, PA
Jason said capturing incidents of this severity is something that comes with the job: "As a photographer, you go out on a few jobs that are serious, but this was obviously very serious... it was always going to be a case that people could be in the building."
Emergency services continue to search for survivors in the remains of the building. Jason went back this morning and said "tarpaulin has been put up in the area and the fire service are removing debris".
Power out after Hinckley Road blastpublished at 09:30 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
Western Power Distribution says about 28 properties are without electricity in Hinckley Road following last night's explosion.
The firm is aiming to have power restored by about 10:00.
Image source, Western Power Distribution/Google
Cause of the explosion 'a matter for emergency services'published at 09:16 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018
Chris Fawcett
BBC News
Gas network Cadent said establishing the cause of the explosion and fire is a matter for the emergency services.
Image source, PA
A spokesman from the firm said it "assisted the emergency services last night, by isolating the gas supply" to the property on Hinckley Road and adjoining properties.
He also added: "Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the four people who have died, as well as those who have been injured."
Shop blast: Neighbouring buildings at riskpublished at 09:14 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
Matt Crane, from Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, said crews would be at the scene of the explosion in Hinckley Road for "a number of days" and it was "still too early to say" what caused the blast.
He added there was the potential for further collapse and buildings on either side had sustained damage.
Image source, PA
"We now have got specialist search and rescue teams supported by search dogs on scene," he said.
"We are trying to locate any further casualties that may be in the building. We still think this is a rescue phase of the operation.
"We are now working to get into different areas of the building using shoring techniques to see if we can locate anybody that may be alive in the building."
Weary fire fighters continue work at explosion scenepublished at 09:05 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
The strain of dealing with the massive blast in Hinckley Road is clear to see on the faces of these two fire fighters.
Andrew Brodie, Leicestershire's assistant chief fire and rescue officers, said crews had been working through the night in "bitterly cold" conditions.
Image source, PA
'Whole house shook' when building explodedpublished at 09:05 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018
Chris Fawcett
BBC News
The shop which exploded last night would normally be open until about 21:00, one eye witness said.
Kat Pattinson, who lives on Hinckley Road said her "whole house shook" when the blast happened shortly after 19:00.
Speaking to Sky News she said: "We checked on our children first and foremost and then we went outside."
Image source, Reuters
She added that there is "still an awful lot of smoke in the area" and that cordons are still in place.
Concerned families 'should contact police'published at 08:33 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018
Chris Fawcett
BBC News
Supt Shane O'Neill spoke to the media this morning where he addressed worries about people potentially caught up in the explosion.
He said: "If anyone has any information about anyone who may have been there who they’re concerned about please ring 101 and tell us who they are."
Image source, Reuters
He added that the road is still closed and couldn't say when it will reopen.
"As the operation continues, just bear in mind it will be really disruptive so can people please take note of all the traffic reports and try to stay away from there area."
Exploded building still smoulderingpublished at 08:30 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018
Jeremy Ball
Social affairs correspondent, BBC East Midlands Today
Smoke is still billowing from the building more than 12 hours after the explosion.
People who lived here said they heard a big bang and a rumble that sounded like an earthquake as the building collapsed like a pancake.
Image source, PA
The building itself was a Polish convenience store on the ground floor with a two-storey flat above it.
The fire service has spent the night with dogs searching through the rubble in desperate hope they will find someone alive.
Police and the fire service said they won't know what happened until they have had a chance to investigate and that won't happen until after the search is complete.
What police have said is that it isn't terrorism related but have asked people not to speculate.
Watch: Police confirm four deaths in shop explosionpublished at 08:16 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
Here's Supt Shane O'Neill talking to the media in Hinckley Road. He confirmed four people had been killed in the explosion but wouldn't be drawn on who they were.
Fire 'still burning' after explosionpublished at 08:16 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018
Chris Fawcett
BBC News
BBC journalist John Alexander who lives near the scene of the explosion said he heard "a noise which sounded like the pilot light of a house boiler being lit, a loud whoosh followed by a tremor, like an earthquake".
He continued: "At first, I thought my boiler had exploded or my roof was falling in so I ran outside, as did most of my neighbours... we were all then asked to leave our houses."
Image source, PA
John said the area was treated with extreme caution throughout the night and it wasn't until 04:30 this morning that he was able to return to his home.
"The power has been restored, so we can get back in but the road is still closed and there is a large plume of smoke coming from the building. The fire is still burning.”
Fire crews praised for shop blast rescue effortpublished at 07:44 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
Leicestershire's chief fire officer paid tribute to the "tremendous effort" of crews as they continued to dig through rubble and tackle the blaze.
Andrew Brodie said work was continuing to ensure those directly affected by the incident were being looked after and described conditions for firefighters as "arduous" on a "bitterly cold night".
Image source, Reuters
Shop explosion 'like an earthquake'published at 07:34 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
Angel Namaala, who lives opposite the shop, told the BBC she heard "this big thud, like an earthquake".
She said: "The building had gone down and people were trying to help where they could by taking the bricks off. But the fire was getting bigger and bigger so people were told to leave the scene."
Image source, PA
She said she and others helped a boy, believed to be aged about 15, who was hurt in the blast.
"He was in there when it happened. I think he was in the flat above the shop. We were keeping him warm and assuring him he'd be OK and the ambulance would be there."
Police chief pays tribute to rescue teamspublished at 07:25 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
Leicestershire's Chief Constable tweets...
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Road remains closed after fatal shop explosionpublished at 07:25 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
Here's how things look right now at the scene of the shop explosion.
A section of Hinckley Road between Bolton Road and Woodville Road remains closed and police have asked drivers to avoid the area.
Watch: Video shows shop explosion aftermathpublished at 07:17 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
Footage filmed by BBC journalist Helen Astle shows the immediate aftermath of the "blast" in Leicester.
At a news conference this morning, Supt Shane O'Neill said: "I can’t say at this stage [what may have caused it] but it is a joint investigation between the fire service and the police and the priority is to make the area safe.”
Police: 'May be more shop blast casualties'published at 07:11 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
In addition to the four dead and four injured, Leicestershire Police said there could be more people hurt in last night's explosion.
Supt Shane O’Neill said: “There are four confirmed fatalities at this stage 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."
Image source, Reuters
He added: “Once the site is deemed to be safe a joint investigation with Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service will begin looking into the circumstances surrounding the incident, which at this stage are not being linked to terrorism.”
Four dead in Leicester shop blastpublished at 07:02 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
Police have confirmed four people were killed in an explosion at a shop in Hinckley Road, Leicester, last night.
Emergency services were called to the scene at about 19:00 and a search and rescue operation was still under way early this morning.
Leicestershire Police said another four people remain in hospital following the blast, one with serious injuries.
Image source, PA
Live coverage of Leicester explosionpublished at 07:02 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2018
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
Good morning everyone. The BBC news team is going to be bringing you the latest news on last night's explosion at a shop in Leicester.