COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

A woman has been seriously injured in Kent in what has been described by witnesses as a car explosion.

Kent Police said they received reports of a vehicle exploding in Vigo, near Meopham, at about 1310 GMT.

Officers said army bomb disposal experts have been sent to the scene to examine the car.

A cordon has been erected and residents have been evacuated from 40 homes in Harvel Road, Commority Road and Southfield Road as a "safety measure".



'Stay away'

The injured woman has taken to hospital for treatment by air ambulance. No other details are known.

A spokesman for Kent Police said: "We would ask people to stay away from the scene to allow the emergency services to do their job.

"We will update you on the situation as soon as we can.

"Army bomb disposal experts are going to the scene to examine a vehicle. This is a precautionary measure to ensure there is no hazard before police begin a full forensic examination of the scene."

A spokeswoman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service said: "Two pumps were sent to the scene at 1309 GMT.

"We tackled a car fire very early on in the incident and assisted the ambulance with the casualty."

A man has been arrested after a car explosion in a Kent village that left a woman with serious leg injuries.

The 32-year-old man was detained after the vehicle exploded in Vigo, near Meopham, at 1310 GMT on Friday.

Two children in another vehicle close to the blast in High View were uninjured by the explosion.

Army bomb disposal experts examined two cars at the scene, while residents were evacuated from 40 nearby homes as a "safety measure".

mozoke wrote:most probably a love triangle between bomb disposel but there again what do i no

The husband of a pregnant woman seriously injured in a car explosion in a Kent village has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Nicholas Fabian, 32, was being held after Victoria Fabian was injured in the blast in Vigo, near Meopham, at 1310 GMT on Friday.

Two children in another vehicle close to the blast were not injured.

Army bomb disposal experts examined two cars at the scene, while residents were evacuated from 40 nearby homes.

Forensic examination

Mrs Fabian, aged in her 30s, is being treated in Darent Valley Hospital, Dartford. Her injuries are not thought to be life-threatening and her unborn baby is believed to be unharmed.

Residents described hearing a loud thud, feeling the ground shudder and seeing smoke rising from the communal car park where Mrs Fabian's vehicle was parked.

A spokesman for Kent Police said the bomb disposal team was brought in as a "precautionary measure", to check there was no hazard before forensics teams moved in.

An emergency shelter was set up at the village hall for people evacuated from their homes.

The police cordon has now been reduced and all but eight houses can be accessed.

A stretch of Highview in Vigo remains sealed off, together with adjoining alleyways.

Police forensic examiners are carrying out a detailed investigation of the car, and a thorough examination of the scene has begun.

The temporary shelter was manned by staff from Kent County Council, Gravesham Borough Council and voluntary organisations including the Red Cross and the Salvation Army.

Kent Police said it wanted to thank the community of Vigo for its "patience and support".

pollyanna wrote:Whatever possessses someone to do something so terrible to his wife and unborn child - presuming the child is his

The husband of a pregnant woman who was seriously injured in a car explosion in Kent has been charged with her attempted murder.

Nicholas Fabian, 32, of Highview, Vigo, near Meopham, is due to appear before Dartford Magistrates on Tuesday.

He is charged with attempted murder and unlawful possession of section one ammunition.

The charges relate to an explosion on Friday in which his wife Victoria, 32, was injured and a car was destroyed.