Two dead after suspicious house explosion in Bristol triggers major incident

Two adults have died after a suspicious explosion at a house in Bristol, with police declaring a major incident and evacuating nearby residents.

Avon and Somerset Police said officers were called to a residential address in Sterncourt Road, Frenchay, at about 06:30 BST on Sunday.

The force said the cause is being treated as suspicious.

A cordon remains in place while emergency services continue their response, and local road closures have been put in place.

Police said nearby residents were moved to a temporary rest centre at a nearby Harvester pub.

The incident has prompted a large emergency response in a residential area, with police cars, ambulances and a bomb disposal van seen at the scene.

Officers have also been carrying out inquiries at a property in Speedwell linked to the incident.

Police said the families of those involved have been informed.

They added that there was not believed to have been any significant damage to neighbouring properties.

The force said it was not treating the blast as a suspected terrorist incident, and asked people not to speculate about the circumstances.

It also said it was not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident at this stage.

Residents described hearing a loud bang around the time emergency services were called, before armed police arrived and the area was sealed off.

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