Benwell Explosion Misinformation Sparks Abuse of Newcastle Staff

A tragic explosion occurred in Benwell last October. Two people died: Archie York, seven, and Jason Laws, 35. There were rumors about what caused it, and these rumors led to verbal abuse of council workers.

A council boss condemned the misinformation, stating that the abuse of staff was unacceptable. The explosion damaged homes in the city’s West End, forcing over 140 people to evacuate.

Reece Galbraith, 33, from Gateshead, faces trial in May, charged with two counts of manslaughter. He pleaded not guilty in court last month, and also denied producing and supplying cannabis.

After the blast, claims spread about a gas leak, suggesting the council knew about it. Pam Smith, the chief executive, asked people to stop speculating, as David Hall said the explosion was not council-related.

Hall told councillors that wrong information caused problems. Repair staff faced “unpleasant incidents” during visits. Misinformation is becoming a bigger problem.

Hall said investigators are working to find the cause, and he feels they responded well to the tragedy. He thought they did their best in tough circumstances, but