Two adults have died following a suspicious explosion at a house in Bristol this morning, with police declaring a major incident and cordoning off the area. The blast was reported at a residential address on Sterncourt Road in the Frenchay area of South Gloucestershire at around 6.30am, Avon and Somerset Police confirmed. The families of the deceased have been informed, and a cordon remains in place while emergency services continue to respond.
Cause treated as suspicious as bomb disposal unit attends
The incident is being treated as suspicious, prompting a major incident declaration. A bomb disposal unit was pictured at the scene, and armed police were witnessed telling residents who went outside to investigate a loud sound to “get inside”. At least one evacuee reported hearing a loud bang at approximately 6.30am. Officers are also carrying out enquiries at a separate property in the Speedwell area of Bristol linked to the explosion, though police have stated they are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.
Residents from a number of properties on Sterncourt Road were evacuated as a precaution, with many leaving in their dressing gowns in a state of disbelief. A nearby Harvester pub has been set up as a temporary rest centre for those displaced. Police said there is not believed to be significant damage to other properties.
Police reassure public amid heightened threat level
Despite the suspicious nature of the explosion and the recent change to the UK national threat level, Avon and Somerset Police moved quickly to reassure the public that the incident is not being treated as a suspected terrorist attack. A force spokesperson 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.”
They urged the public not to speculate on the circumstances and to continue avoiding the area while emergency services deal with the aftermath. The police have not yet provided any details on the possible cause of the explosion, but the presence of bomb disposal experts and the active investigation at a second location underline why the incident is being treated with suspicion.
The explosion on Sterncourt Road comes after a series of notable blast incidents in the Bristol region in recent years, although those were determined to be accidental or industrial in nature. In April 2025, a gas explosion destroyed a home in Lancaster Road, Yate, injuring four people and leaving dozens evacuated, with Wales and West Utilities later confirming it was not linked to the gas mains. In December 2020, a major incident was declared following an explosion at the Wessex Water recycling centre in Avonmouth which killed four men, including a 16-year-old apprentice, caused by suspected methane accumulation. A separate incident in South Bristol in July 2025 saw a man arrested on suspicion of making an explosive after police attended a property on South Liberty Lane, but the item was later found not to be viable. Unlike these cases, the Sterncourt Road blast is being officially treated as suspicious, and investigators are yet to rule out any deliberate cause.
