An explosion at a flat in Edgware which killed a man is being investigated by the Anti-Terrorist Branch.

Shanker Venkatesan, 20, was blown apart in the explosion at Holgate Court, Kings Drive, shortly after 3.25pm on Saturday.

His disabled mother, believed to be in her 50s, who was also in the flat at the time, escaped with minor injuries and is being treated for shock.

The cause of the explosion is unknown, although police are treating it as suspicious. A search of the flat has revealed a small quantity of potential explosive substances and other items which have been removed for forensic examination.

Anti-Terrorist Branch officers are keeping an open mind about the incident. At this stage it is not believed to be terrorist-related.

Ahmed Ghaffar, 49, of Kings Drive, was first on the scene. "There were bits of body on the lawn. I thought it was just debris but when I looked more closely I saw bits of brain.

"The mother was stuck at the back of the flat screaming. I wanted to get her but I have just had a neck operation and so I can hardly walk. The blast was away from her. There was a very small fire.

"When the father came back at about 5pm police sat him down and he started crying.

Mr Ghaffar, who was sitting with his 21-year-old twin daughters when he heard the noise, said he was convinced explosives caused the blast.

"I served in the Egyptian Army and I know the diffference between gas and explosives. I am 100 per cent sure it was a bomb.

Immediately after the explosion the occupants of Holgate Court were evacuated to the Moat House Hotel in Elstree.

Barnet mayor Joan Scannell and councillor Brian Coleman, who were at the Friern Barnet summer show, helped volunteers with the evacuation.

Holgate Court remains evacuated while a police forensic examination expected to last two days is carried out. Council surveyors will then be allowed to assess the building for structural damage.

A Barnet Council spokeswoman said residents would know towards the end of the week if and when they can return to their homes.

A second evacuation of a separate block of flats Salisbury Court in Kings Drive was carried out at 10.33pm on Sunday as a precaution while police carried out forensic searches. The residents were able to return to the their homes later on Sunday evening.

August 20, 2002 11:00