6 hours ago
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A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 46-year-old woman was found fatally stabbed inside a house after a gas explosion in north-east London.
Police had been called to reports of an explosion at the address in Dumont Road, Stoke Newington, shortly before 5am on Tuesday.
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.”
Neighbours described the noise they heard as the explosion tore through the house. A resident on Dumont Road said he heard a crash “like somebody dropped a massive glass cabinet from a crane”.
The man, who did not want to be named, added: “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.”
Six fire engines and 40 firefighters were called to the scene early on Tuesday, where road closures remain in place. The house, a terrace on the corner of Dumont Road, was surrounded by police, firefighters and gas workers later in the morning.
The front bay window was completely blown out, with debris including plants, wooden shutters and glass scattered across the street. A 76-year-old neighbour said: “I was asleep upstairs and heard a sudden bang, then I saw from the curtain all the glass all on the floor.
“I was worried. Everybody on the street came out in their pyjamas.”
Another neighbour said: “I’m pretty sure it was two bangs I heard. There was lots of glass shattering. I knew it wasn’t a car crashing because it sounded like lots of glasses had been smashed on the floor.”
The Metropolitan Police said they would deploy extra patrols in the area while the investigation continues.
Anyone with information can call police on 101 quoting CAD 926/17June, or to remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online.
