LONDON, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Two people died after an explosion at a residential address in Bristol, southern England, local police said on Sunday.

Police were called to Sterncourt Road on Sunday morning, before they cordoned off the area and evacuated nearby residents, according to a statement by Avon and Somerset Police.

The cause of the incident is being treated as suspicious, and a major incident has been declared.

"Given the recent change to the UK threat level, we would like to reassure the public from the outset we are not treating this as a suspected terrorist incident," said the statement.

Britain last week raised its terrorism threat level to "severe," the second-highest level, after police declared a stabbing attack in London's Golders Green area "a terrorist incident."

Officers are also carrying out inquiries at a property in Speedwell, suburban Bristol, which is linked to this incident, added the statement. ■