Man arrested after explosion at block of flats

A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson after an explosion on the top floor of a residential city high-rise.

West Midlands Police said a 45-year-old male was detained on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life after the incident at a flat this morning (Tuesday 15 March).

The force said a joint police and fire investigation into the cause of theexplosion was on-going but confirmed it was not terrorism-related or as a result of gas.

Emergency services also said nobody had been trapped or injured and astructural assessment had been completed.

Residents were evacuated after 999 calls reporting an explosion on the topfloor of the eight-storey Sandown Tower in the Northfield area of Birmingham.

The occupant of the flat thought to be at the centre of the explosion has been accounted for, the fire service said.

Three fire crews were initially sent to the scene but that had been scaled back to one appliance by the afternoon.

The emergency services and Birmingham City Council have started organising the return of the tower block's residents to their homes.