Ex-Partner Forces Entry With Explosive Device, Kills Woman in Bristol House Explosion

A woman and her ex-partner died in a house explosion in Bristol after police said the man forced entry with an explosive device, and Avon and Somerset Police treated the woman’s death as a homicide.

“- Published A woman and her ex-partner died in a blast after he forced his way into the house "in possession of an explosive device", police have said”

BBC

The incident took place at a property on Sterncourt Road in Frenchay, with police receiving a call from a person inside the home at 6.17am on Sunday reporting a “domestic-related incident.”

BBC

Police said that at around 6.30am the caller told them the intruder was believed to be in possession of an explosive device, and “Two minutes later an explosion occurred.”

The BBC said the explosion occurred at about 06:32 and that the first officers arrived at 06:34, joined by fire and ambulance services shortly afterwards.

The Mirror reported that Jo Shaw, 35, and her ex-partner Ryan Kelly, 41, both died in the blast, and that three other people, including the person who reported the domestic-related incident, were treated for minor injuries.

The Telegraph similarly said the blast “killed both him and his ex-partner” and that nearby houses were rocked, with “injured three others, including a child.”

Police worked with Bristol City Council to evacuate people staying in neighbouring properties as a precaution, and a temporary rest centre was set up as the cordon was reduced on Sunday night.

Police described a tightly timed sequence in which the call from inside the property preceded the blast by minutes, and they detailed the immediate emergency response that followed.

According to Sky News, officers were called to a “domestic-related incident” in Sternourt Road, Bristol, at 6.17am on Sunday, and at around 6.30am police were told a man was believed to have an explosive device at the property.

Bristol Live

Sky News then said that “around two minutes later an explosion occurred,” and that Superintendent Matt Ebbs said the woman’s death had been officially recorded as a homicide based on information known at the time.

The Guardian also placed the call at 6.17am and said that “Two minutes later the blast happened,” while stressing that the force believed the explosion was deliberate but not linked to terrorism.

The BBC gave the same structure with more precise timestamps, saying the explosion occurred at about 06:32 and that the first officers arrived at 06:34.

After the blast, police said extensive searches were carried out by the army’s explosive ordnance disposal team and specialist police officers to ensure the area was safe.

Police also carried out a search of an address in Speedwell linked to Ryan Kelly, with the Telegraph saying it was “three miles away” and that “No evacuations were required following the search.”

In addition to the cordon and evacuation, the Telegraph said “Around 70 people were evacuated from nearby homes to an emergency rest centre in the Snuff Mill Harvester restaurant,” while Bristol Live described a temporary rest centre set up at the Harvester nearby.

Across multiple reports, Avon and Somerset Police said the woman’s death was recorded as a homicide and that the force would refer the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct because of prior domestic incidents.

“A man forced his way into a house armed with a device minutes before an explosion which killed both him and his ex-partner, with the woman's death being treated as a homicide, police said”

Roch Valley Radio

The Mirror quoted Superintendent Matt Ebbs saying, “Jo’s death has been officially recorded as a homicide based on the information known to us at this time,” and added that police were “not looking for anyone else in connection with her death.”

The BBC similarly said the force has referred itself to the police watchdog over the incident, with the mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct due to previous police contact with the victim prior to Sunday.

The Guardian stated that the force has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) because other domestic incidents had been reported prior to Sunday.

Bristol Live also reported that police made a mandatory referral to the IOPC due to “other domestic incidents being reported to us prior to Sunday.”

Police also addressed the nature of the explosion, with Supt Ebbs telling reporters that “We would like to reassure the public there is not believed to be any wider risk to safety and this is not being treated as terrorism-related.”

The BBC included Supt Ebbs’s emphasis that “We believe the cause of the explosion to be deliberate,” and that “Analysis work of the explosive device has not yet been completed.”

The Mirror added that police said they were not treating it as terrorism-related and that “We will share all details of our enquiries with the coroner so they can make a final determination around how the deaths occurred in due course.”

Neighbour and family accounts in the reporting described what people believed they heard and what relatives said about the device, while police continued to say analysis was not complete.

The Mirror quoted neighbour Stuart Blanchard saying, “I thought it was a gas explosion so stayed inside,” and adding, “I’ve heard it was a hand grenade.”

The Guardian

The Telegraph also reported that Ms Shaw’s uncle claimed her ex-boyfriend had set off a grenade in her house, quoting John Shaw’s account: “My younger brother Anthony rang me to tell me that she’d been killed and that her ex had let a grenade off in the house.”

The Telegraph further said police had not confirmed the grenade claim, and it quoted Supt Matt Ebbs stating, “Analysis work of the explosive device has not yet been completed.”

Wales Online similarly said “Speculation has circulated online suggesting a grenade was involved, though this remains unconfirmed,” and it described the explosion as “being treated as 'suspicious'.”

Wales Online also included a statement from Supt Ebbs that “At about 6.17am, we received a call to attend a domestic-related incident at a residential address in Sterncourt Road,” and that “shortly before they arrived – at just after 6.30am – there was an explosion inside the property.”

In addition to those accounts, Bristol Live described the victim’s family as “devastated” and said police confirmed Jo Shaw was believed to be 35-year-old Jo Shaw who lived at the address, while the man was believed to be her 41-year-old former partner Ryan Kelly.

The BBC and Sky News both described the device as an “explosive device” rather than confirming a grenade, with the BBC saying the caller believed the intruder was “in possession of an explosive device.”

Police said they expected activity at the Sterncourt Road scene to continue for several days and that they did not believe there was any wider risk to public safety.

“A man forced his way into a house in Bristol with an “explosive device” a few minutes before a blast that killed his ex-partner and himself”

The Guardian

The Mirror reported that Supt Ebbs said police activity at the Sterncourt Road property is expected to continue for several days, and it quoted him saying, “We would like to reassure the public there is not believed to be any wider risk to safety and this is not being treated as terrorism-related.”

The Mirror

Sky News likewise quoted Supt Ebbs: “Police activity continues to be carried out at the property in Sterncourt Road and we expect this will take several days to be completed.”

The Guardian repeated that “Police activity continues to be carried out at the property in Sterncourt Road and we expect this will take several days to be completed,” and it added that “Analysis work of the explosive device has not yet been completed.”

The BBC said Supt Ebbs emphasised that the incident is not being treated as terrorism-related and that “We believe the cause of the explosion to be deliberate,” while also stating that “Analysis work of the explosive device has not yet been completed.”

Police also said they would share details of their inquiries with the coroner, with the Mirror quoting, “We will share all details of our enquiries with the coroner so they can make a final determination around how the deaths occurred in due course.”

In the immediate aftermath, police said three other people were treated for minor injuries and did not need to stay in hospital, with the BBC saying “Three other people, including a child, were treated for minor injuries following the explosion and did not need to stay in hospital.”

The Mirror also reported that the force referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct because previous domestic incidents had been reported prior to Sunday, and it said police worked with Bristol City Council to evacuate nearby properties and set up a temporary rest centre.

As the investigation continues, police said officers remain in the area and people can speak to them if they have concerns they wish to discuss, with the Mirror quoting, “Officers remain in the area and people can speak to them if they have concerns they wish to discuss with us.”