Man and woman die and three injured in house blast

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A man and woman have died and three others have been injured in a "suspicious" explosion at a house in Bristol, police say.

Avon and Somerset Police were called to a house in Sterncourt Road, Frenchay, for a domestic-related incident minutes before an explosion happened at about 06:30 BST.

Three people - a man, a woman and a child - were also taken to hospital for minor injuries. A major incident was declared and officers cordoned off the area and evacuated nearby residents from their homes.

The force said the blast was "suspicious" but was not being treated as a terrorist incident.

In a press conference, Supt Matt Ebbs said officers were also carrying out inquiries in Speedwell in the city, at a property linked to the man who died.

He said police were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident but said it remained a "complex and sensitive investigation".

The force has not yet confirmed what caused the explosion.

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Police said they will "reduce the cordon as soon as we can" and that it remains in place as a precaution.

That has included specialist searches by the British Army's Explosive Ordnance Disposal, as a precaution.

There was not believed to be any significant damage to other properties.

Ebbs added that public safety is the priority and people will see more police patrols in the area.

Bradley Shepherd, who lives on Bradeston Grove, said he heard a "large explosion noise" at about the time emergency services were called.

He said: "I sort of jumped out of bed to see what was going on.

"There was nothing immediately that I could see, but within minutes the police were arriving, attending the property. We had all emergency services there within 10 minutes, armed police.

"Within maybe about 15 or 20 minutes, once they had it cordoned off, they were instructing all the neighbourhood, the majority are probably 60-plus years of age, to actually evacuate their properties and take residence in the local Harvester [restaurant]."

Residents were moved from the restaurant to the nearby Begbrook Social Club at about 12:30 BST.

Harvester has since confirmed the restaurant has reopened to the public after "operating on a limited basis" to support residents who had been evacuated.

"We're proud to have been able to support our local community when it was needed most," it said.

Police have said they are working with Bristol City Council to support evacuated residents.

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The College of Policing defines a major incident as "an event or situation with a range of serious consequences which requires special arrangements to be implemented by one or more emergency responder agencies".

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