Leicester explosion: Three men arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after five killed in blast

Detectives question suspects after human remains recovered from flattened building

Three men in their 30s have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after a deadly explosion in Leicester.

The remains of five people were recovered from the site of a supermarket and the two-storey flat above it on Hinckley Road, around a mile from the city centre.

The huge blast on Sunday night threw debris across four lanes of traffic and started a fire.

Detectives were questioning the suspects after arresting them on Wednesday afternoon, according to Leicestershire Police.

One man is from East Anglia, the second from the North West, and the third from the East Midlands.

“No further details will be released about these individuals at this stage," the force said in a statement.

The police said there was no evidence the explosion was linked to terrorists.

Still officially listed among the missing are Mary Ragoobeer, 46, and her sons Shane, 18, and Sean, 17.

Also unaccounted for are Shane’s girlfriend Leah Beth Reek, also 18, and 22-year-old shop worker Viktorija Ijevleva.

Leicestershire Police are working to formally identify the victims and their relatives have been informed.

The latest development came as tributes were paid to volunteer Ms Reek, who was praised for her “passion”, “ bubbly personality and sense of humour” by the Loros Hospice.

The organisation, which serves Leicestershire and Rutland, said she had recently been nominated for the Lord-Lieutenant’s Young Volunteer of the Year award for her work.

It said in a statement: “It is with great sadness to hear that Leah Reek is one of those missing following the incident.

“Leah had been volunteering at Loros since September 2017, as part of our Day Therapy Team and was known for her bubbly personality and sense of humour.

“She worked hard and her passion for committing to pursue a career in the health sector was clear, with the patients’ needs always at the forefront of her work.

“She will be greatly missed by all of her colleagues at Loros. Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this extremely sad time.”

The principal of Long Field Academy in Melton, Ms Reek’s former school, said she was “an incredibly friendly, proactive and bubbly character who was really popular amongst her peers and staff alike”.

Chris Haggett added: “She will be fondly remembered and we send our heartfelt condolences to her family and friends at this incredibly tragic time.”

Prayers have been said for all those affected by the tragedy at English Martyrs’ Catholic School, where Sean Ragoobeer was a sixth form student.

Mother-of-three Ms Ragoobeer, whose other son 15-year-old Scotty was among the wounded, worked at the King Richard III Visitor Centre in Leicester.

Iain Gordon, visitor centre director, said: “We are all deeply shocked and saddened by this terrible tragedy and our thoughts and prayers are with her husband and family at this very difficult time.”

Press Association contributed to this report