Two adults have been killed and a major incident declared after an explosion at a house in Bristol this morning.
An explosion was reported at a residential address in Sterncourt Road, Frenchay at about 6.30am today, Avon and Somerset Police said.
The cause of the incident is being treated as “suspicious” and a cordon has been put in place while emergency services respond to the incident.
In a statement, police confirmed that two adults have died at the address and their families have been updated.
Officers are also carrying out enquiries at a property in Speedwell which police say is linked to the Sterncourt Road explosion.
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
- Two killed in ‘suspicious’ Bristol house explosion as major incident declared
- Police not treating explosion as 'suspected terrorist incident'
- Residents within police cordon are being 'evacuated'
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.
