'Suspicious' Bristol explosion declared major incident as 2 dead – FULL police update

Two people have died in a 'suspicious' house explosion in Bristol. Police have declared a major incident and deployed bomb disposal units. The explosion was reported at a property in Sterncourt Road in the Frenchay area at around 6.30am. Armed police were spotted and residents have been moved to an emergency “temporary rest centre” in the nearby Snuff Mill Harvester pub. Locals heard a loud "bang" this morning before smoke was seen surging from one of the houses. Avon and Somerset Police set up a white tent at the site and the cordon was later extended to cover the corner of Froomshaw Road. The force said the incident is being treated as suspicious, and that a major incident has been declared. The explosion is not being treated as terror related, and police are not looking for anyone else. Police are however carrying out inquiries at a property in Speedwell, believed to be linked to the explosion. One resident who has been moved to the Harvester pub said he heard a loud "bang" at 6.30am and went outside, before being told to "get inside" by armed police. He said neighbours spotted smoke billowing from one of the houses. A cordon remains in place while emergency services respond to an incident in Bristol. An explosion was reported at a residential address in Sterncourt Road at about 6.30am today (Sunday 3 May). The cause of the incident is being treated as suspicious, and a major incident has been declared. Two adults have died at the address and their families have been updated. Emergency services are following well-rehearsed plans in response to this incident. Our enquiries are at an early stage, but at this point we are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident. The cordon has been put in place as a precaution to help keep the public safe. People living within that cordon are therefore being evacuated to a temporary rest centre. There is not believed to be any significant damage to other properties. Officers are also carrying out enquiries at a property in Speedwell linked to this incident. Given the recent change to the UK threat level, we would like to reassure the public from the outset we are not treating this as a suspected terrorist incident. We ask people not to speculate around the circumstances and continue to encourage the public to avoid the area while emergency services respond to this incident.