A man forcibly entered a residence in Bristol carrying what was described as an “explosive device,” just moments before an explosion that resulted in the deaths of his ex-girlfriend and himself.

Authorities have identified the deceased woman as Jo Shaw, aged 35, and her former partner, Ryan Kelly, aged 41. The police are treating Shaw’s death as a homicide and have indicated that the explosion, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, was likely intentional, although they do not believe it to be connected to terrorism.

The Avon and Somerset police received an emergency call from an individual inside the house at 6:17 a.m. on Sunday, reporting a “domestic-related” incident. At approximately 6:30 a.m., the caller expressed concerns that the man had an explosive device. Just two minutes later, the explosion occurred.

The police department has referred the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) due to prior reports of domestic incidents involving the individuals involved.

In addition to the fatalities, three other individuals, including the caller, sustained minor injuries but did not require hospitalization.

Superintendent Matt Ebbs remarked, “We understand that the community will be deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic events that unfolded on Sunday morning. Jo’s death has been officially classified as a homicide based on current information, and we are not seeking any additional suspects related to her death. Our thoughts are with her grieving family, and specially trained officers are providing them with ongoing updates and support.”

The caller informed the police that the intruder was known to them and remained on the line while officers were dispatched to the location on Sterncourt Road in Speedwell. The first responders arrived just two minutes after the explosion, followed by fire and ambulance services shortly thereafter.

The police confirmed that a mandatory referral would be made to the IOPC due to the deaths occurring following prior police contact regarding other domestic incidents.

In collaboration with Bristol City Council, police evacuated nearby residents as a precautionary measure and established a temporary rest center. The area was also searched by the army’s explosive ordnance disposal team and specialized police units to ensure safety before allowing most residents to return home later that evening.

A search of a property in Speedwell associated with Kelly was completed over the bank holiday weekend without necessitating any evacuations.

Ebbs added, “Ongoing police activities at the Sterncourt Road property are expected to continue for several days. We want to assure the public that there is no perceived broader risk to safety and this incident is not classified as terrorism-related. As previously indicated, we suspect that the explosion was intentional, though analysis of the explosive device is still pending. We will provide all findings to the coroner to assist in determining the circumstances surrounding the deaths.”