GUILTY UK - Four people critical after explosion and fire in Leicester, England, Feb 2018

LONDON - Four people were hospitalized in critical condition following an explosion that left a building in the English city of Leicester in flames Sunday, local emergency agencies said.

Leicestershire Police initially asked the public to stay away from the road where the explosion happened just after 7 p.m. while first responders tended to what was described as a “major incident.”
The department said on its website about three hours later there was no indication the emergency was terrorist-related. It asked the news media and everyone else not to speculate about the cause.

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The fire service said the building is believed to have collapsed and it's not known if more people were injured or are trapped in the fire and rubble.

The street is a mix of apartments and small shops, including a convenience store, a kebab restaurant and a Polish grocery. Police said a number of buildings near the burning one were damaged.

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[h=1]Major incident declared after ‘massive explosion’ shakes homes in Leicester[/h] Witnesses describe low booming sound

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Leicestershire Police said in a statement: ”There has been a major incident on Hinckley Road, Leicester. All emergency services are currently dealing with this. Carlisle Street and part of Hinckley Road have been closed Please avoid the area.”

MP for Leicester West, Liz Kendall said on Twitter: “Terrible news, am in touch with police as situation develops, thoughts and prayers with all those affected and with our amazing emergency services.”

Anyone concerned about family members is asked to call 101

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[h=1]Explosion flattens shop: Five dead in 'major incident' in Leicester[/h] Police believe there may still be people unaccounted for after a blast and subsequent fire destroy a shop and flats in Leicester.

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During the night search and rescue teams found four bodies in the collapsed building and another body was found on Monday afternoon.

Teams are continuing to carry out a rescue operation and believe more people may be trapped in the building, which was still on fire on Monday morning.

Rescue work was temporarily suspended due to the structural integrity of a neighbouring building, with the search and rescue work due to resume later on Monday afternoon.

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katydid23 said:

What caused such a huge explosion?

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The owner of a shop has described how he escaped from an explosion that killed five people.

The explosion caused a convenience store and the flats above it to collapse.

Aram Kurd, 33, was in the shop at the time. He said had gone to the storeroom at the back of the shop to get some beers for him and an employee, Victoria when he heard a "loud bang".

He shouted out for Victoria, who had only be working at the store for two days, but has not heard anything from her since.

Speaking to ITV Central, he said: "I was holding her phone at the time of the explosion as we had been watching YouTube videos.
"I don't know, I really hope that she's alive. I was shouting Victoria! Victoria! Victoria!

"I don't know how it happened.

"It was a big noise. I found myself up and then to the floor, for two or three minutes I couldn't feel anything, I was looking up, my eyes were open.

"I managed to pull himself from the rubble and climbed into the neighbouring garden."

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"We are still waiting to hear what caused this terrible incident, but it looks likely it was a gas explosion.

"We remain in close contact with the police and fire service and await their update on this.
"Our thoughts and sympathies are with all of those affected. The city council will continue to do everything it can to support them and the local community to recover from this devastating event."

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A mother and two of her sons are believed to be among the five people who died in an explosion in Leicester.

Mary Ragoobar, 46, and sons Shane, 18, and Sean, 17, lived in the flat above the shop in Hinckley Road which was destroyed in the blast on Sunday.

Police said they are missing along with Shane's girlfriend Leah Beth Reek, 18, and Viktorija Ijevleva, 22, who was working in the shop at the time.

Remains belonging to five people have been recovered from the wreckage.

Leicestershire Police said given the "devastation caused by the blast and fire", it may be some "considerable time" before the bodies are formally identified

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A day of solidarity is planned by staff and students at the school attended by missing Leicester explosion victims Shane and Sean Ragoobeer.

Shane, 18, left English Martyrs School in Beaumont Leys two years ago at the end of year 11, while Sean, 17, was in the school’s sixth form.
It is believed members of their family will attend the event at the school tomorrow.

The pair's home was destroyed in the explosion in Hinckley Road on Sunday evening

They are missing alongside their mum, Mary, Shane’s girlfriend, Leah Reek, 18, and Viktorija Ljevleva, 22, who was working in the supermarket below the two storey home.

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The first three arrested come from East Anglia, the North West and the East Midlands, police confirmed.

Det Insp Michelle Keen said: "It's vital that we speak to anyone who may have information about any people they saw coming and going into the supermarket in Hinckley Road in the hours leading up to the explosion.

"Was there anyone in acting strangely or in a suspicious manner? Did you see any vehicles parked up, or being driving in a strange manner in the area around the supermarket?"

She added: "People lost their lives in the most horrific way on Sunday. We owe it to them to understand the cause of that explosion."

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Leah Reek (left) was visiting the flat and Viktorija Ijevleva was working in the shop below

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Leicestershire Police said the suspects, who are both in their 30s and from East Anglia, were held on Friday.
They were detained on suspicion of conspiracy to cause an explosion, and for offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

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Officers have refused to comment on reports that the blast, shortly after 7pm on Sunday, was caused by an illegal alcohol distillery.

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Last night it also emerged that Miss Ijevleva was due to stand trial alongside three other men in Norwich this June on a charge of defrauding UK customs, related to an allegation of tobacco smuggling.

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Prosecuting solicitor Zoe Lee told Leicester Magistrates' Court: "It has been established that the explosion was caused by petrol and the petrol was spread throughout the shop."

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The defendants are:
Aram Kurd, 33, of Hillary Place, Leicester
Hawkar Hassan, 32, of no fixed address
Arkan Ali, 37, of Drake Close, Oldham
They each face five counts of manslaughter and one count of arson with intent or being reckless as to whether life was endangered.
The court heard that Mr Ali's partner was 22-year-old shop worker Viktorija Ijevleva, who died in the explosion.

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