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The body of a man who held police at bay for hours has been found inside the burnt barn where a huge explosion took place, injuring nine police officers, said the Connecticut State Police.
The event unfolded around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday when a woman contacted North Haven police saying she had been held hostage for several days at her Quinnipiac Avenue home by her estranged husband, police said.
According to Trooper Kelly Grant a regional tactical team, consisting of North Haven police officers and police officers from surrounding towns, responded to the scene and attempted to enter the residence and make contact with the suspect.
As tactical team members were attempting to enter the residence, a large explosion occurred. As a result of the explosion, nine police officers from the tactical team were injured, Grant said.
The injured tactical team officers were transported to Yale-New Haven Hospital for the evaluation of non-life-threatening injuries. The Connecticut State Police Tactical Unit responded to the scene and assumed tactical response duties.
Once the fire was extinguished by the North Haven Fire Department, detectives searched the fire scene and located the remains of one person, she said.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will conduct a post-mortem examination to determine the identity of the deceased, and cause and manner of death. The identity of the deceased is pending identification and next of kin notification.
The Connecticut State Police Bomb Squad and New Haven Police Department Bomb Squad also responded to the scene to assist with the investigation.
During the barricaded suspect investigation and subsequent explosion, residents were asked to shelter in place. The shelter in place has since been lifted, however, residents are asked to remain vigilant.
The investigation remains active.
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