An explosion has ripped through a building’s flat in north London. Firefighters rushed to the blast this morning and rescued a man who was taken to hospital suffering from burns.

Residents from surrounding properties were evacuated.

The force of the explosion tore the front off the property in Bell Lane, Hendon, this morning.

The explosion also caused damage to a shop underneath the flat, which is owned by a company belonging to Jewish multimillionaire Leo Noe. Mr Noe, who is worth £600m, was notified and arrived at the property in Bell Lane, Hendon, shortly afterwards.

Members of the voluntary Jewish North West Community Patrol who, had been patrolling the surrounding area, were first on the scene.

Members of the voluntary Jewish North West Community Patrol were first on scene at the incident. They were partolling the surrounding streets at the time of the explosion. In the 2006 Sunday Times rich list Mr Noe, 55 was listed at number 168, with a wealth of 380 million. Mr Noe who was at a family wedding last night when he heard about the explosion. He immediately rushd to the scene in his Rolls Royce.

Mr Noe, who was at a family wedding last night, was brought to the site in a Bentley.

The 55-year-old, who is ranked 70th in the 2009 Sunday Times rich list, is known for his shrewd reading of the property market.

A spokesman for the tycoon said: ‘Our only concern is for the man who has been injured.’

The London Fire Brigade investigation team established the cause of the fire as a gas explosion and detectives from Barnet CID are now investigating the cause.

They have not disclosed any more information but the incident is not being treated as racially motivated.

DS Mark Tyrrell said: “The explosion and resulting fire caused massive damage to the premises and has affected properties in the surrounding area, it is a miracle that not more people were hurt as a result.

“Enquiries will continue at the scene to establish exactly what has happened and I would ask anyone with information to call police.”

A man, aged 39, suffering burns was seen to exit the premises, and was taken by ambulance to the Royal Free Hospital.

He has been transferred to a specialist burns unit where his condition is understood to be critical.

An elderly woman whose house backs onto the premises, suffered shock when her windows were blown out, and was treated at the scene.

A woman aged 26 and a man aged 31 also received treatment for minor injuries.

Anyone with information is asked to call Barnet CID on 020 8733 4595 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

(Source: Daily Mail)