An 18-year-old man has been arrested following a suspected explosion at a block of flats in Ipswich, which forced residents to evacuate and closed the road overnight. Suffolk Police confirmed the arrest on suspicion of arson/criminal damage with intent to endanger life, and no injuries were reported.
Incident Details
Police were called to Princes Street in Ipswich shortly before 9pm on Friday, July 31, after multiple reports of windows being blown out at a residential building. Officers arrived to find significant damage to several windows, prompting an immediate evacuation of the premises for safety reasons.
The road was closed to traffic, and diversions were put in place. Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service and the East of England Ambulance Service also attended the scene to assist with the response.
Arrest Made
At approximately 9.05pm, an 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson/criminal damage with intent to endanger life. He was taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning. Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the incident.
A police spokesperson said: “A man has been arrested following an incident in Ipswich. Police were called to Princes Street just before 8.45pm on Friday, July 31, following reports of a suspected explosion at a block of flats, which caused damage to several windows. At approximately 9.05pm, an 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson/criminal damage with intent to endanger life. Enquiries continue to establish the circumstances of the incident, however no injuries have been reported.”
Impact and Ongoing Investigation
Princes Street was expected to remain closed overnight, with motorists advised to follow diversions. Residents were allowed to return to their homes once the area was deemed safe, though the exact time of reopening has not been disclosed.
Authorities are appealing for anyone with information about the incident to contact Suffolk Police. The investigation is in its early stages, and further updates are anticipated as officers work to piece together what led to the explosion.
