House blast not deliberate say police

LONDON (Reuters) - A gas leak was the most likely cause of an explosion which flattened two houses in Harrow earlier this month, killing one person, police said on Thursday.

A substance was poured through the letterbox of 21 Stanley Road, north London, before the blast on May 7, but police said no evidence so far pointed to this being a factor.

"We are now satisfied that this was not a cause of, nor a contributory factor to, the explosion," Detective Chief Inspector Colin Sutton said in a statement.

"None of the information gathered in the past few days supports the theory of explosives, or similar devices, nor a deliberate act to cause an explosion."

Instead, there were early signs that a build-up of gas may have been the cause.

"Although there was no gas appliance in use at No. 21, there was a supply -- and a meter -- which had been unused for some years," he added.

"Preliminary indications are that a large volume of gas may have passed through the meter on May 7, and it is this which has now become the focus of our investigation."

The body of Emmad Qureshi, 26, was found among the rubble of No. 23 Stanley Road. He had died of a wound to the neck caused by falling debris.

A 26-year-old friend, who has not been named, suffered head and arm injuries and is still in hospital where his condition is described as stable.