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31/10/2014
Man Arrested Following Fireworks Explosion
A man has been arrested following a fire at a fireworks warehouse in Staffordshire.
An explosion occurred at SP Plastics at around 5.15pm on Thursday (30 October).
Police have said an investigation has now been launched into the incident.
A number of people suffered injuries in the fire. Two men were taken to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire; one in his 40s is being treated for serious burns, and the other, said to be in his 60s, is being treated for a back injury. Two women, one in her 40s and one in her 50s, were received treatment for smoke inhalation at the scene.
A further two people are still unaccounted for. Their families have been informed.
Police have said they are now working to establish the cause of the explosion and are trying to trace who was in and around the unit at the time.
Roads around the scene remain closed as forensic examinations are carried out.
In a statement, Superintendent Ian Coxhead, from Staffordshire Police, said: "We have a great deal of sensitive and challenging work to complete in order to allow us to establish the cause of the explosion and following fire.
"We understand the unit was storing a significant volume of fireworks which appear to have been completely destroyed during the blaze last night. This makes the ongoing examination of the scene particularly challenging and we expect to be at the scene for some time.
"We can confirm a 53-year-old male has been arrested in connection with the incident."
(JP/IT)
An explosion occurred at SP Plastics at around 5.15pm on Thursday (30 October).
Police have said an investigation has now been launched into the incident.
A number of people suffered injuries in the fire. Two men were taken to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire; one in his 40s is being treated for serious burns, and the other, said to be in his 60s, is being treated for a back injury. Two women, one in her 40s and one in her 50s, were received treatment for smoke inhalation at the scene.
A further two people are still unaccounted for. Their families have been informed.
Police have said they are now working to establish the cause of the explosion and are trying to trace who was in and around the unit at the time.
Roads around the scene remain closed as forensic examinations are carried out.
In a statement, Superintendent Ian Coxhead, from Staffordshire Police, said: "We have a great deal of sensitive and challenging work to complete in order to allow us to establish the cause of the explosion and following fire.
"We understand the unit was storing a significant volume of fireworks which appear to have been completely destroyed during the blaze last night. This makes the ongoing examination of the scene particularly challenging and we expect to be at the scene for some time.
"We can confirm a 53-year-old male has been arrested in connection with the incident."
(JP/IT)
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:It will be cloudy. Also mainly dry at first this evening but then occasional outbreaks of rain developing overnight. Light southwest winds, and staying mild. Minimum temperature 9 °C.
