Policemen hurt in siege blast

Two police officers have been injured in a blast during a siege in Nottingham.

The officers had been called to a block of flats in Church Square, Lenton, Nottingham, which had to be evacuated after a man barricaded himself in a first-floor flat and threatened to cause an explosion.

Nottinghamshire Police said two officers were injured after a "detonation" at 1am.

The policemen were taken by ambulance to Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre and were treated for shock and smoke inhalation a police spokesperson said.

The officers were released from hospital following treatment for minor injuries.

The explosion caused part of the building to catch fire and an outer wall to collapse. A man was arrested at the scene.

Police were initially called to the flats at 11.30pm yesterday and evacuated about 30 residents at 12.30am.

A man arrested at the complex remains in hospital where he is being assessed, a police spokeswoman said.

Meanwhile, residents have been housed at a nearby hotel until the building is assessed by a structural engineer.

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