A 44-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 46-year-old woman was found fatally stabbed inside a house where emergency crews raced following a mammoth gas explosion in Stoke Newington, north-east London.
Six fire engines and 40 firefighters were called to the scene on Dumont Road in Stoke Newington shortly before 5am on Tuesday after the property's windows were shattered by the blast.
Metropolitan Police and London Fire Brigade (LFB) are investigating the cause but the force confirmed it is now being treated as a murder investigation after they found the womna' body inside the property.
The man was arrested on suspicion of murder at the scene after the 46-year-woman was found fatally stabbed inside the badly-damaged property.
A police spokesperson 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."
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."
The house, a terrace on the corner of Dumont Road, this morning remained surrounded by police, firefighters and gas workers.
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."
LFB station commander Darren McTernan added: "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."
Crews from Stoke Newington, Islington, Homerton and Holloway fire stations were called to the scene.
