Woman's Death Ruled Homicide After Bristol House Explosion

Jo Shaw, 35, and her former partner Ryan Kelly, 41, died in an explosion at a house on Sterncourt Road in Frenchay, Bristol, at about 6:30 a.m. BST Sunday.

Avon and Somerset Police said officers responded to a domestic-related incident minutes before the blast. Investigators are treating the deaths as suspicious.

Superintendent Matt Ebbs said Shaw's death has been recorded as a homicide based on information available so far.

The force will make a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct because of prior police contact with Shaw before Sunday.

Ebbs said, "We know everyone's thoughts and sympathies will be with Jo's devastated family. Specially trained officers are providing them with updates and support."

"We recognize there is significant interest in what happened, but at the center of it there are many people grieving and we would please ask everyone respects that and gives them the privacy they want," he added.

Police received a call at 6:17 a.m. BST from someone inside the property reporting a domestic incident. The caller said a known man had forced entry into the house.

Several double-crewed units were sent to the scene. The caller stayed on the line and reported around 6:30 a.m. that the intruder was believed to have an explosive device.

The explosion happened at 6:32 a.m. First officers arrived two minutes later and were joined soon after by fire and ambulance services.

Three other people, including the caller, received treatment for minor injuries after the blast and did not require hospital admission.

An army bomb disposal team and specialist police officers later conducted extensive searches of the area to confirm it was safe.