Man, two sons die in blast at US home

Asia Bulletin (IANS) Monday 6th February, 2012

Three people, including two boys, were killed Sunday in an explosion at a home in the north-western US state of Washington.

The explosion happened at around 12.30 p.m. shortly after a case worker, who dropped the boys off for a supervised visitation, was forced out of the house in Graham, a city around 70 km south of Seattle, said Xinhua.

According to The Seattle Times, police said they believe Josh Powell, the husband of a Utah woman who has been missing since 2009, as well as their two young boys, Charlie, 7, and Braden, 5, were killed in the explosion.

The explosion is being investigated as an intentional act, said the police.

Last week, a judge ordered that Powell's sons remain in the custody of his missing wife's parents. The boys were removed from his custody last September after Josh Powell's father, Steve Powell, was arrested and charged for possessing child pornography.