Fridge freezer triggered London blaze, police say

A faulty fridge freezer in one of the flats in Grenfell Tower was the cause of last week’s blaze in London that led to at least 79 deaths, and an urgent review of building materials used in similar buildings across the UK and a series of inquiries.

Scotland Yard’s detective superintendent Fiona McCormack said on Friday manslaughter was one of the charges the organisation is considering in view of the death toll. Companies involved in the tower’s construction and refurbishment were being investigated, she added.

“We now have expert evidence that the fire was not started deliberately - the fire started in a fridge freezer - the make and model is a Hotpoint FF175BP,” she said, adding investigators were speaking to its manufacturer.

“Such is the devastation inside, our forensic search and recovery may not be complete by the end of the year.” HTC