Harrow blast 'probably a gas leak'

Last Modified: 15 May 2008
Source: ITN

A blast that killed a man and destroyed three houses was probably not started deliberately, police have said.

Detectives investigating the explosion in Stanley Road, Harrow, northwest London, think it was caused by a gas leak.

They had linked the explosion to a substance poured through the letterbox of number 21, but this has now been ruled out as a cause of the blast on May 7.

Charlotte Anderson, 17, who lived at the address, suffered severe burns in the explosion.

Emmad Qureshi, 26, suffered fatal neck injuries and his friend was left with head injuries.

Detective Chief Inspector Colin Sutton said there was a gas supply to number 21 which had fallen out of use, but "a large volume of gas" passed through the meter on the day of the blast.

Police entered the property on Wednesday and removed the meter, a doormat and piping for forensic examination.

Officers have spoken to a group of young girls who were seen outside the house on the morning of the blast and were alleged to have poured a purple liquid through the letterbox.

Detective Chief Inspector Colin Sutton said: "None of the information gathered in the past few days supports the theory of explosives, or similar devices, nor a deliberate act to cause an explosion.

"Preliminary indications are that a large volume of gas may have passed through the meter on May 7, and it is this which has now become the focus of our investigation which we are conducting hand in hand with the Health and Safety Executive."

Mr Qureshi was in the house next door when it was reduced to rubble, burying him under concrete and timber.

Charlotte, who is still in hospital, will need skin grafts to heal her burns, her family said.

Some 14 houses on the street remain empty as they are checked for structural faults.

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