Fridge freezer behind deadly London blaze

London, June 23 

A fire that killed at least 79 persons at a London tower block started in a Hotpoint fridge freezer, and the outside cladding engulfed by the blaze has since been shown to fail all safety tests, the London police said on Friday.

Detective Superintendent Fiona McCormack said in view of the heavy death toll, police were considering manslaughter charges over the disaster.

She said the Hotpoint model, FF175BP, involved was not subject to recall and the manufacturer was doing further tests. “We now have expert evidence that the fire was not started deliberately,” McCormack told reporters in London. Britain ordered an immediate technical examination of the Hotpoint fridge model, manufactured between 2006 and 2009, to establish whether further action needed to be taken, but said there was no need for owners to switch off their appliances. “We are working with the authorities to obtain access to the appliance so that we can assist with the investigation,” Whirpool said. — Reuters