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'Very powerful explosion' rocks Swedish town

A large blast has hit a town in southern Sweden, lightly injuring 25, destroying the windows of a residential building, and damaging other buildings.

Damaged balconies in Linkoping, central Sweden.
Damaged balconies in Linkoping, central Sweden. Source: AAP

A powerful explosion in the southern Swedish town of Linkoping has damaged buildings and lightly injured 25 people, police said.

The cause of the explosion was unclear but police said a bomb squad was on its way to the scene in downtown Linkoping and that they had opened a criminal investigation.

Rescue personnel at the scene.
Rescue personnel at the scene. Source: AAP

"There is nothing that indicates that this incident is terror-related, we do not see that," police spokeswoman Asa Willsund said.

"We think that it occurred outside," Willsund said of the explosion. "We estimate that there are 25 people with minor injuries - no serious injuries or deaths."

Swedish public radio reported that a large blast had destroyed the windows and balconies of a five-storey residential building and damaged other neighbouring buildings.

The cause of the blast is still unknown.
The cause of the blast is still unknown. Source: AAP

"Many people called in about a very powerful explosion which has led to a large number of windows being blown out," police spokesman Bjorn Oberg said.

"So far we have been able to confirm that there are a number of people with light injuries. We have cordoned off a large area, several blocks."

Pontus Johansson, a 21-year-old engineer who lives in a building nearby, said he was in the shower when he heard a loud bang.

"First I didn't think it was anything bad, then I saw the neighbour's window was broken so I left our apartment and saw the chaos outside," he told Reuters.


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