Deadly Blast Site Was Illegal Alcohol Factory

Five men have been killed after a huge fireball ripped through an industrial building, which police said was apparently being used to produce alcohol illegally.

Firefighters found the victims inside a building in Broadfield Lane Industrial Estate, Boston, Lincolnshire, after an explosion heard up to five miles away.

One man was seen running from the industrial unit with his clothing on fire. Police said a sixth man who survived the blaze suffered 75% burns and was receiving surgery.

Lincolnshire Police superintendent Keith Owen said searches had revealed evidence that supports rumours that the victims may have been illegally producing spirits.

He said: "What I can confirm is that we have found chemicals on the premises which tend to indicate either the manufacture or production of alcohol."

The fire service said the intensity of the fire and the fact it lasted for a short period of time would suggest there was "some form of accelerant".

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue area manager Steve Moore said: "It was a very hot, very intensive fire, so much so that the steel roller-shutters were buckled."

Several neighbours made frantic 999 calls as thick, black smoke was seen rising from the scene after 7pm on Wednesday.

Firefighters had to cut through the 30ft by 15ft building with special equipment before finding the five bodies inside.

Ian Nuttall, who lives 200 yards from the area, said: "It is quite well known that those kind of people are carrying out vodka operations and such like."

Earlier this year, raids by HM Revenue and Customs, police and Lincolnshire trading standards seized goods including fake vodka from six international stores in the town.

HMRC said forensic testing of the counterfeit alcohol, seized in March, showed it contained chemicals often unsafe for public consumption.

Detectives are refusing to be drawn on the identities of the dead men, including their ages and nationalities.

Cases of large-scale brewing and distilling operations in the UK are rare but not unheard of.

In June a counterfeit wine scam was uncovered after a piece of chewing gum was found in a bottle of rose bought at a Liverpool off-licence.