A man in his 50s is in a critical condition with serious burn injuries following a house explosion in Stroud Green today.
Two female policewomen and a policeman were also injured in the blast inside a house in Stapleton Hall Road, where bailiffs were dealing with a man involved in an ongoing housing dispute.
A police spokesman said officers were called to a disturbance at around 11.50am following reports of a man armed with a weapon at the house. Police said: “The suspect, a man aged in his mid fifties, was involved in an ongoing housing dispute. It is understood that bailiffs were at the address along with the man’s family.”
Shortly after police arrived at around midday, there was an explosion in the basement of the house.
Ten fire engines and 72 firefighters attended the blaze. The house was evacuated but no neighbouring properties were affected.
Emergency services battled to make the scene safe bringing the blaze under control at 3.30pm
A London Fire Brigade spokesman said: “All of the basement of the terraced house was damaged by fire. Part of the ground floor and part of the first floor of the property and a shed in the rear garden were also damaged in the blaze.”
Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident.
The investigation has been referred to the Met’s directorate of professional standards and the Independent Police Complaints (IPCC) as a matter of procedure. The cause of the fire is being investigated.
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