http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-10871314
Two young boys and a girl have been found dead after an explosion in an Edinburgh flat, police have confirmed.
Fire, police and ambulance crews were called to reports of a fire at 166 Slateford Road in the west of the city after 1400 BST.
A woman who is thought to be the children's mother was also taken to the city's Royal Infirmary by ambulance.
A Lothian and Borders Police spokesman said the children did not die as a result of the blast or the fire.
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Start Quote
We saw a woman lying on the ground. She was covered by a sheet, then she was taken in an ambulance and we were asked to move to a safer areaâ
Omar Barisah
Neighbour
But he could not confirm whether the incident was being treated as a criminal investigation or a tragic accident.
It is understood the woman was found lying in the street after jumping or being thrown from the building.
The police spokesman said a fire on the first floor of the three-storey modern apartment block was extinguished by Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service and the property made safe.
Gas supply at the scene was isolated as a precaution, and other properties have not been affected.
Scotland Gas Networks engineers have also been sent to the scene.
Several foreign students living in the terraced block said they believed the injured woman lived in the property with her three children, and that they were newcomers to the building.
Some said they believed the woman had jumped from a balcony.
Chemical engineering student Moe Harbi, 22, from Saudi Arabia, said he smelt gas at about 0100 BST on Wednesday.
He added: I thought it was from my flat though I checked the kitchen and the oven and then I slept. I didn't think it was from my neighbours.
Omar Barisah, 20, also a student, told BBC Scotland he had heard a noise like a shooting gun.
He added: It felt like a big bang - it was absolutely frightening and I had to take my little brother, and his friend who was sleeping and woke up because of the noise, and we ran out of the house.
A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue said: Two fire appliances and a turntable ladder attended at the address, a three-storey modern townhouse. Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus extinguished a small fire on the first floor of the building.
Gas at the property was isolated as a precaution and fire crews remain at the scene with the fire investigation unit - they are currently liaising with the police.
Two young boys and a girl have been found dead after an explosion in an Edinburgh flat, police have confirmed.
Fire, police and ambulance crews were called to reports of a fire at 166 Slateford Road in the west of the city after 1400 BST.
A woman who is thought to be the children's mother was also taken to the city's Royal Infirmary by ambulance.
A Lothian and Borders Police spokesman said the children did not die as a result of the blast or the fire.
Continue reading the main story
â
Start Quote
We saw a woman lying on the ground. She was covered by a sheet, then she was taken in an ambulance and we were asked to move to a safer areaâ
Omar Barisah
Neighbour
But he could not confirm whether the incident was being treated as a criminal investigation or a tragic accident.
It is understood the woman was found lying in the street after jumping or being thrown from the building.
The police spokesman said a fire on the first floor of the three-storey modern apartment block was extinguished by Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service and the property made safe.
Gas supply at the scene was isolated as a precaution, and other properties have not been affected.
Scotland Gas Networks engineers have also been sent to the scene.
Several foreign students living in the terraced block said they believed the injured woman lived in the property with her three children, and that they were newcomers to the building.
Some said they believed the woman had jumped from a balcony.
Chemical engineering student Moe Harbi, 22, from Saudi Arabia, said he smelt gas at about 0100 BST on Wednesday.
He added: I thought it was from my flat though I checked the kitchen and the oven and then I slept. I didn't think it was from my neighbours.
Omar Barisah, 20, also a student, told BBC Scotland he had heard a noise like a shooting gun.
He added: It felt like a big bang - it was absolutely frightening and I had to take my little brother, and his friend who was sleeping and woke up because of the noise, and we ran out of the house.
A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue said: Two fire appliances and a turntable ladder attended at the address, a three-storey modern townhouse. Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus extinguished a small fire on the first floor of the building.
Gas at the property was isolated as a precaution and fire crews remain at the scene with the fire investigation unit - they are currently liaising with the police.
