Explosion rocks Gibraltar

By Jon Clarke and James Bryce

RESCUE teams and fire crews were scrambled to an explosion in Gibraltar today amid concerns of a terrorist incident.

At least two people are reported as being ‘seriously injured’ from the blast which rocked the North Mole Cruise Line terminal, just yards from where one of the world’s biggest cruise liners had been docked.

Early reports suggest that the explosion was an accident, but the enormous cruise ship Independence of the Seas was forced to pull out to sea as an emergency measure.

The explosion was felt by people over one mile away.

Chief Minister Peter Caruana told GBC television this afternoon: “All factors are being considered, but welding had been going on on top of the tanks.

“Nonetheless the police are keeping their minds open to a possible security incident

“Meanwhile our resources are going to all the emergency teams.”

Telephone lines went down as panic spread around the enclave, after the blast at around 4pm.