Massive explosion injures officers following standoff at North Haven home
NORTH HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH)– - An explosion took place at a home on Quinnipiac Avenue in North Haven where police and a SWAT team had been involved in a standoff for hours.
At least six people have been injured and were transported to area hospitals, including a SWAT team member, who had a wound to his leg.
The explosion happened around 8:15 p.m., according to witnesses.
Seven people were brought to Yale-New Haven Hospital as a result of the incident. All are under evaluation.
North Haven First Selectman Michael J. Freda told News 8's Mario Boone that at least four officers were taken to the hospital.
Prior to the house exploding, several SWAT members had gotten close to the home and were ready to go in before the explosion happened.
At least 100 first responders were on the scene following the explosion.
Police have not released details about why they were on scene in North Haven, but confirmed road closures on Quinnipiac Avenue near Orient Lane. They are asking people to avoid the area.
A News 8 crew reported that police officers used a loudspeaker to ask a man to come out of the house.
A witness told News 8 that they heard gun shots coming from the house.
"We had just gotten done eating dinner, we got up, we heard the explosion, it knocked my wife to the floor," said one neighbor. "I huddled my family into the bedroom, locked the door, and came out to see what was going on. You could see the house was fully engulfed, you could hear the rounds popping off, I guess he had ammunition in there."
A neighbor said police officers told neighbors to get in their houses, as more explosions might happen.
"You could hear them every couple of minutes or so over the loudspeaker, just saying, 'John, please come to the window, please show yourself, we are here to help.' You could tell they were doing everything they could to have a peaceful solution to this."
"Right around 8:15, 8:30, a flash went off. The explosion went right through the windows, and hit my roof, and my whole house shook," said one neighbor. "We were freaking out. I thought my life was going to end."
News 8 will update this story with more information as soon as it becomes available.
http:// www.wtnh.com/news/connecticut/new-haven/police-swat-team-on-scene-at-home-in-north-haven/1156227813