Woman found fatally stabbed in house after ‘gas explosion'
Police have arrested a man on suspicion of murder after a woman was found fatally stabbed inside a house after a suspected gas explosion.
The 44-year-old man was arrested after the body of a 46-year-old woman was discovered inside the property in Stoke Newington, northeast London.
Six fire engines and 40 firefighters were called to the address on Dumont Road — a two-storey terraced house — shortly before 5am on Tuesday.
The Metropolitan Police were called at 4.57am to the property in the borough of Hackney after reports of a gas explosion with a person trapped inside a property.
The woman was found inside with stab wounds. Despite the efforts of paramedics, she was declared dead at the scene.
Two children, aged nine and seven, were taken to hospital as a precaution but they are not believed to have been inside the property at the time of the gas explosion.
The man was arrested at the house on suspicion of murder and taken to hospital with slash wounds. He remained in hospital on Tuesday morning. His condition was assessed as not life-changing or life-threatening.
Road closures remained in place at the address.
Police and the London Fire Brigade (LFB) are investigating the cause of the explosion, which was brought under control by the firefighters by 5.42am.
Dumont Road is a residential street lying just behind Stoke Newington Church Street and near the A10. House prices on the street were an average of £1,470,000 over the past year, according to RightMove.
A spokesperson for the fire brigade said: 'Sadly one woman was pronounced dead at the scene. One man was also found at the property suffering injuries following the explosion.'
Darren McTernan, LFB station commander, 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.'
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