A man in his 40s suffered life-changing injuries after an explosion at a house in Sharnbrook near Bedford, in what a woman has claimed was a chemistry experiment that went wrong.
Loring Road in the village was cordoned off by the police as the bomb squad examined the home. Fire fighters also stood by.
Three neighbouring homes were evacuated following the explosion on Monday evening. Writing on Sharnbrook’s Facebook noticeboard, the woman said: “For information. One of my son’s chemistry experiments went wrong. Police are ensuring the house & surrounding residents are safe.
“He’s in Addenbrookes with some serious injuries. Hopefully, that will answer the questions. I’m sorry if people are being inconvenienced. The police will be there until they’ve ensured it’s safe for people to return. Apologies again.
“The man, who is in his early 40s and is believed to live with his mother, is being treated at Addenbrooke’s hospital in Cambridge for his injuries. Local councillor Doug McMurdo was at the scene on Wednesday, April 12.
He said: “Three families have been displaced and I am keen to get them home as soon as possible. “I understand the investigation is ongoing. I am not yet aware of the cause. ”The police have assured me nobody else is at risk” T
Bedfordshire police said: “Emergency services are continuing to investigate a small explosion which took place at a residential property in Sharnbrook earlier this week.
“A specialist explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team has been leading searches at a house in Loring Road following the incident at around 7.40pm on Monday (10 April).
“The incident is being treated as isolated, with no risk to the wider public.
“A man in his 40s remains in hospital following the explosion having suffered life changing injuries. “He was arrested on suspicion of offences under the Explosive Substances Act, but is yet to be interviewed due to his treatment.”
The police said searches at the address are expected to continue over the coming days. Three neighbouring properties have been evacuated as a precaution.
The statement went on: “Bedfordshire Police is leading the investigation, with support from the Bedfordshire Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit.
“Due to the nature of the incident, Counter Terrorism Policing has deployed resources with access to specialist capabilities to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.”
Detective Superintendent Will Hodgkinson from Bedfordshire Police, who is leading the operation, said: “Incidents of this nature are understandably of great concern to local communities and I wish to thank everyone for their patience, cooperation and understanding.
“This is especially true of those residents who have had to move elsewhere while we carry out our enquiries.
“While our investigation remains at an early stage and we are keeping an open mind, this is believed to be an isolated incident with no risk to the wider public.
“An emergency services presence is likely to remain at the scene for much of the rest of the week, and we’ll continue to progress with our investigation as quickly as we can whilst we get to the bottom of what has happened.”
Anyone with information about the incident or which can assist police with their enquiries is asked to report it via beds.police.uk/ro/report or call 101.
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