Two die in Dublin fire

A young man and woman in their twenties have died in a Dublin fire.

Gardai are investigating the blaze, which broke out at Blackhall Square Apartments at North King Street in the Bridewell area of the city shortly before 1am.

Three units of Dublin City Fire Brigade and two ambulances attended the scene.

Firefighters using breathing apparatus gained entry to the ground floor apartment and found the bodies in the bedroom.

Gardai are treating the blaze as suspicious. Detectives are investigating reports that there was an explosion before the fire and that someone was seen leaving the scene before the blaze.

The scene has been preserved pending an examination by the Garda Technical Bureau and State Pathologist Dr John Harbison later today.

The victims' names have not yet been released.