A MURDER probe has been launched after a woman was discovered stabbed to death following a gas explosion at a house in London.
Cops have arrested a 44-year-old man on suspicion of murder and two children have been taken to hospital following the blast in Stoke Newington, north-east London, early this morning.
PANeighbours described seeing ‘mild smoke’ coming from the back of the building[/caption]
PAOne resident heard a crash that sounded ‘like somebody dropped a massive glass cabinet from a crane’[/caption]
PACops have arrested a 44-year-old man on suspicion of murder following the blast[/caption]
Six fire engines and 40 firefighters were called to a terraced house on Durmont Road shortly before 5am.
Authorities confirmed that a 46-year-old woman had been discovered in the property with fatal stab wounds.
She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Two children, aged seven and nine, were taken to hospital as a precaution, but are not currently believed to have been in the building during the explosion.
Neighbours described seeing “mild smoke” coming from the back of the building.
One resident told how he heard a crash that sounded “like somebody dropped a massive glass cabinet from a crane”.
The man, who did not want to be named, said: “I looked out and saw panes of glass on the floor. You could tell it wasn’t a car window.
“Eventually I noticed the beam on the bay window was missing and could see some mild smoke coming out of the back.
“People starting arriving and saying to phone the police.
“There was a guy rushing around, very distraught. He went round the back.”
The Metropolitan Police said: “A woman aged 46 was found inside the property with stab wounds.
“Despite the efforts of paramedics, she was sadly declared dead at the scene.
“A 44-year-old man was arrested at the address on suspicion of murder.
“He was taken to hospital with slash wounds where he currently remains. His condition is not life-changing or life-threatening.
“Two children aged nine and seven have also been taken to hospital as a precaution but are not believed to have been inside the property at the time of the gas explosion.”
One neighbour, a friend of the affected family, told the London Standard that the kids were out of the house at a sleepover at the time of the blast.
The neighbour described the residents as “just a lovely family”, adding that the explosion was “confusing, we thought it was in our house. I couldn’t place it”.
Halil Youdjel, who also lives nearby, said: “It was 5.50am I was asleep and suddenly bang.
“At the beginning I thought someone hit the wall with the car. I looked out the window and saw smoke coming out of the house and saw glass shattered.
“By the time I got out police and ambulance were called and they arrived in two minutes. The whole flat was shaking and there was loads of smoke.
“I heard screams but it was from other neighbours who were panicking.
“It was like no one was there. It was very quiet. The family who live there have two kids and I see them around sometimes.
“I have lived here for three years and nothing like this has ever happened. It’s always very peaceful and there are never any complaints.
“It’s very shocking.”
The Met and London Fire Brigade (LFB) are investigating the cause.
Glass and debris from the blast remained strew across the street, reportedly 10 metres from the blown-out house.
The situation was brought under control by 5.42am by the Fire Brigade, however, a large police cordon was still in place at 8am this morning.
A team of forensic officers were reported seen around the back of the home as the police investigation was launched.
Motorists have been told to avoid the area as cops shut the nearby roads.
There will be additional police patrols in the area while the investigation continues.
LFB station commander Darren McTernan said: “Motorists and pedestrians are advised to avoid the area for most of this morning while investigations into the cause of this incident are carried out.
“There are road closures in place on Stoke Newington Church Street from the junction of the A10 to Defoe Road.
“Residents should also note that Kersley Road is completely shut at this time.”
Crews from Stoke Newington, Islington, Homerton and Holloway fire stations were called to the scene.
PACops confirmed a woman had been discovered in the property with fatal stab wounds[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
