PRESS ASSOCIATION -- Investigators at the scene of an explosion which killed five men and left another seriously injured have found chemicals that suggest alcohol was being produced illegally.
Lincolnshire Police superintendent Keith Owen said searches of the industrial unit in Boston after the blast on Wednesday night revealed evidence that supports rumours 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."
Emergency services were called to the scene in Broadfield Lane at around 7.30pm after several 999 calls were made.
One man was found outside and, after cutting their way into the fire-ravaged unit, firefighters found five men who had died in the blaze.
Mr Owen said they were still working to identify the victims, who are believed, but not confirmed, to be eastern European. He said their bodies are due to be removed from the scene and post-mortem examinations will be carried out later.
Investigations by fire and police experts are continuing, but Mr Owen said: "What we have is a smoke-filled room and we will be working through that. What you need to appreciate is that these inquiries are going to be very slow and very methodical." He said the main focus was identifying the victims, but also the manufacturer of alcoholic drinks.
Mr Owen said the sixth man, who was taken to hospital in Boston then transferred to the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham, was due to undergo surgery and they hoped to speak to him later. He said he had suffered "quite extensive" injuries and is understood to have 75% burns.
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 was found to contain chemicals often unsafe for public consumption. Since then, at least one store has had its alcohol licence revoked by the local council and another has had it suspended.