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Grenfell Tower fire: police say officials may have committed corporate manslaughter

Flames and smoke billow as firefighters deal with a serious fire in the Grenfell Tower apartment block at Latimer Road in West London, Britain June 14, 2017. Reuters/Toby Melville

LONDON — British police say they have “reasonable grounds” to suspect that local officials may have committed corporate manslaughter in a deadly high-rise fire in London.

The Metropolitan Police force said Thursday it has officially informed the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Association that they are under suspicion.

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Grenfell Tower fire survivors heckle council member at town hall

The news came in a letter from police to Grenfell Tower residents. The force confirmed to the Associated Press that the letter is genuine.

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At least 80 people died when fire ripped through the public housing high-rise on June 14.

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Police have said for weeks their investigation will consider whether anyone should be charged with a crime.

The force said Thursday it was “considering the full range of offences from corporate manslaughter to regulatory breaches.”

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