A man and a woman have been killed in a “suspicious” blast at a house in Bristol this morning, police have said, while three others were injured.
An explosion was reported at a residential address in Sterncourt Road, Frenchay at about 6.30am today, Avon and Somerset Police said.
Three people, including a child, were taken to hospital with minor injuries following the incident, superintendent Matt Ebbs said in a conference. He affirmed that the families of the man and woman killed had been updated.
The cause of the incident is being treated as “suspicious” and a cordon has been put in place until at least this evening while emergency services and a bomb squad respond to the incident, police said.
Officers are also carrying out enquiries at a property in Speedwell which police say is linked to the man who died in the Sterncourt Road explosion. No evacuation has been necessary at this scene.
A representative of the police said: “Given the recent change to the UK threat level, we would like to reassure the public from the outset we are not treating this as a suspected terrorist incident.”
Key Points
- Victims of Bristol house explosion were a woman and a man
- Three people hospitalised with minor injuries
- Police not treating explosion as 'suspected terrorist incident'
- Neighbour 'jumped out of bed' when he heard the explosion
- In pictures: Bomb squad and emergency services at the scene
- Cordon to remain in place until at least this evening
Recap: A woman and man have died in an explosion
19:00 , Bryony GoochSuperintendent Matt Ebbs told reporters: “At about 6.17am we received a call to attend a domestic related incident at a residential address in Sterncourt Road.
“Officers were sent to the scene but shortly before they arrived, at just after 6.30am, there was an explosion inside the property.
“A woman and a man have died at the address and we’re treating the explosion as suspicious.
“Their families have been updated and are being supported by specially trained officers, and our thoughts are very much with them.“Three people, a man, a woman and a child, were taken to hospital to be treated for minor injuries.”
Watch: Police issue update after fatal house explosion in Bristol leaves man and woman dead
18:27 , Bryony GoochFrenchay usually 'quiet and friendly'
18:00 , Bryony GoochResidents said the Frenchay neighbourhood is usually quiet and friendly, according to the Press Association.
The address in Sterncourt Road is located on the outskirts of Frenchay, northeast of the centre of Bristol.
People injured or killed were in the same property at the time of explosion
17:30 , Bryony GoochAll five people are understood to have been in the same property at the time of the explosion.
Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.
Residents evacuated staying at the Harvester - report
17:00 , Bryony GoochA resident has had to help elderly neighbours leave their homes and come with them to the Harvester following an explosion in Bristol, local media reports.
They are not sure if they will be allowed to return to their homes this evening. He told BristolLive: "We have been told to stay in the Harvester until further notice. We may not be able to go home tonight."
Up to 70 people from the evacuated homes are at the Harvester, the outlet reported.. Staff at the establishment have provided them with free food and drink.
In pictures: Superintendent Matt Ebbs reading a statement to members of the media
16:45 , Bryony Gooch
Watch: Police cordon in place as two adults die after explosion at a house in Bristol
16:33 , Bryony GoochPolice to patrol streets for reassurance to residents following Bristol explosion
16:25 , Bryony GoochPolice will patrol the streets to reassure residents after a man and woman died following an explosion at a house in Bristol, Avon and Somerset Police have said.
In a statement on Sunday afternoon, Superintendent Matt Ebbs said: “We know this incident will be of great concern to those living in the affected communities, and our neighbourhood policing teams will be carrying out patrols to provide reassurance and advice.
“And if anyone is worried or concerned, please speak to an officer.”
He added: “This does remain a complex and sensitive investigation and we’ll continue to provide updates as and when they’re available.”
Cordon to remain in place until at least this evening
16:24 , Bryony GoochAvon and Somerset police superintendent Matt Ebbs has said a cordon will remain in place until at least this evening.
“As a precaution, people living within the cordon were evacuated to a temporary rest center, and we want to thank them for their ongoing cooperation and understanding.
“We fully recognize how disruptive this has been for them, and to manage expectations, we think the cordon will remain in place until at least the evening, and we'll continue to provide updates where we can public safety will always be our priority and will reduce the cordon as soon as it's safe for people to return to their homes.”
Speedwell property linked to man who died
16:10 , Bryony GoochAvon and Somerset police superintendent Matt Ebbs has given an update about the force’s inquiries at the Speedwell property.
“Officers are also carrying out inquiries at another property in Speedwell, which is linked to the man who died. No evacuations have been necessary at this scene.”
Three people hospitalised with minor injuries
16:09 , Bryony GoochAvon and Somerset police superintendent Matt Ebbs has said three people were hospitalised following the incident.
“Three people, a man, a woman and a child were taken to hospital to be treated for minor injuries.”
Victims were a woman and a man
16:08 , Bryony GoochAvon and Somerset police superintendent Matt Ebbs has said a man and a woman have died during the Bristol explosion.
“Their families have been updated and are being supported by specially trained officers, and our thoughts are very much with them.”
Police to give update shortly
16:00 , Bryony GoochPolice will give an update as part of a press conference shortly. We will bring you the latest lines.
Police to hold news briefing at 4pm
15:47 , Bryony GoochSuperintendent Matt Ebbs will hold a news conference at approximately 4pm, according to Sky News.
Stay tuned while we bring you the latest likes.
Officers carrying out enquiries at property linked to incident
15:37 , Bryony GoochOfficers are also carrying out enquiries at a property in Speedwell linked to this incident.
The force said: “Given the recent change to the UK threat level, we would like to reassure the public from the outset we are not treating this as a suspected terrorist incident.
“We ask people not to speculate around the circumstances and continue to encourage the public to avoid the area while emergency services respond to this incident.”
In pictures: Forensics team at the scene in Bristol
15:29 , Bryony Gooch
Bulletin | Two killed in ‘suspicious’ explosion at house in Bristol
14:45 , Alex CroftTwo adults have died following an explosion at a house in Sterncourt Road, Bristol, on Sunday morning.
Here’s everything you need to know about the explosion in five bullet points:
In pictures: Bomb squad and emergency services at the scene
14:02 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
View of Sterncourt Road where explosion took place
12:59 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
What is a major incident?
12:43 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe College of Policing defines a major incident as “an event or situation with a range of serious consequences which requires special arrangements to be implemented by one or more emergency responder agencies”.
Avon and Somerset Police statement
12:24 , Maryam Zakir-HussainAvon and Somerset Police have asked the public to avoid the area of the explosion at this time.
A cordon is in place as emergency services respond to reports of an incident at a house near Frenchay.
— Avon and Somerset Police (@ASPolice) May 3, 2026
People from a number of properties in Sterncourt Road are being evacuated as a precaution.
We'd ask people to avoid the area at this time.
More details to follow. pic.twitter.com/eh6SUeoXsZ
Resident 'jumped out of bed' when he heard the explosion
12:20 , Maryam Zakir-HussainBradley Shepherd, who lives on Bradeston Grove, said he “jumped out of bed” when he heard a "large explosion noise" at the time of the explosion.
Police and armed police were arriving to the property “within minutes”, he told the BBC.
He added that the entire neighbourhood were told to evacuate their properties within 15-20 minutes and ushered to the local Harvester.
Resident heard 'loud bang' at time of explosion
12:12 , Maryam Zakir-HussainOne resident, who asked not to be named, told BristolLive he heard a loud “bang” at about 6.30am and went outside to see what was happening.
He said armed police shouted for him to "get inside, get inside!”
He and his partner were shortly told to evacuate their home and move to the Harvester pub until further notice.
Police carry out enquiries at property in Speedwell
12:03 , Maryam Zakir-HussainOfficers are also carrying out enquiries at a property in Speedwell which police say is linked to the Sterncourt Road explosion.
Residents within police cordon are being 'evacuated'
11:57 , Maryam Zakir-HussainA cordon has been put in place as a precaution to help keep the public safe, Avon and Somerset Police have said.
“People living within that cordon are being evacuated to a temporary rest centre”, they said, adding: “There is not believed to be any significant damage to other properties.”
Police not treating explosion as 'suspected terrorist incident'
11:52 , Maryam Zakir-HussainA representative of the police said: “Given the recent change to the UK threat level, we would like to reassure the public from the outset we are not treating this as a suspected terrorist incident.
“We ask people not to speculate around the circumstances and continue to encourage the public to avoid the area while emergency services respond to this incident.”
Two killed in ‘suspicious’ Bristol house explosion as major incident declared
11:48 , Maryam Zakir-HussainTwo adults have died after an explosion at a house in Sterncourt Road, Bristol, this morning, Avon and Somerset Police said.
An explosion was reported at a residential address in Sterncourt Road at about 6.30am today.
The cause of the incident is being treated as suspicious, and a major incident has been declared.
Two adults have died at the address and their families have been updated.
A cordon remains in place while emergency services respond to the incident.
