Explosion death 'could be murder'

Nearly 30 people have been left homeless

A man killed in an explosion at a house in north-west London could have been murdered, Scotland Yard has said.

A second man and a teenage girl were also hurt in the blast which tore through three houses in Stanley Road, South Harrow, on Wednesday night.

Police say they have not ruled out murder and said the cause of the explosion had "yet to be established".

Fire crews are trying to ensure the stability of the collapsed properties before removing the man's body.

Initially they feared other people may be trapped under the rubble.

A statement from Metropolitan Police said officers are waiting for the premises to be declared safe before they try to enter and recover the body. The man is yet to be formally identified.

A London Ambulance Service spokesman said the 26-year-old man who suffered a serious head injury and the 17-year-old girl, suffering from 20% burns, remain in hospital.

The blast completely destroyed two houses and seriously damaged a third in the Victorian terrace.

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Neighbour Paul Redmond recalls the incident

Harrow Council is providing temporary accommodation for around 60 people evacuated from homes in Stanley Road and neighbouring houses following Wednesday night's explosion.

Council leader David Ashton said: "We are providing emergency accommodation for those affected and will keep providing whatever help we can to minimise the upheaval experienced by residents."

The sound of the explosion could be heard as far away as Northwood, more than five miles away.

Recounting how he spotted the injured teenager, Andrew Haynes, 44, said: "There was a girl's arm just poking through the rubble and there was a beam on her. It looked like the ceiling had fallen on her.

"It took us about 15 minutes to get to her."

'Feared for life'

Mike Leahy, 42, who lived in one of the damaged properties, said he survived because he was at his ex-wife's house.

"Usually I'm in at that time. I'm lucky to be alive."

Paul Redmond, 42, whose front door was blown off due to the blast's impact, said "I was terrified. I feared for my life. I've never heard a bang like it.

There was a girl's arm just poking through the rubble and there was a beam on her Andrew Haynes 'We heard voice from rubble'

"I did not know what it was, the kids came running in to me screaming. Bits of rubble were still falling off next door."

Six fire engines and 30 firefighters were called to the scene. Police sealed off surrounding roads and set up a cordon.

Gas engineers were at the scene overnight checking the supply pipes.

A National Grid spokeswoman said: "We found no trace of a gas leak in our system but we will continue to have a very small presence on site."

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