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More than 800 units across North London to be evacuated as manslaughter charges considered

More than 800 units at five tower blocks are to be evacuated across London's north to allow for "urgent fire safety works" to be carried out.

Camden Council is preparing to evacuate the homes that are covered in cladding made from similar material to that used on the Glenfell Tower that caught alight last week and claimed 79 lives, the BBC reports.

Council leader Georgia Gould said it would remove the thermal cladding from the five tower blocks on the Chalcots estate following a meeting with residents on Thursday night.

"Camden Council is absolutely determined to ensure that our residents are safe and we have promised them that we will work with them, continue to act swiftly and be open and transparent," Ms Gould said.

Mass evacuations have been ordered at five tower blocks in London's north. Source: AFP
Mass evacuations have been ordered at five tower blocks in London's north. Source: AFP

After the Grenfell Tower fire, Ms Gould said the residents' safety came first.

"Grenfell changes everything and I don't believe we can take any risks."

The announcement comes as investigators say they will consider bringing manslaughter charges over the deadly London tower block fire.


The outside cladding engulfed by the blaze has since been shown to fail all safety tests, police said on Friday. They have already seized material from a number of undisclosed organisations.

Detective Superintendent Fiona McCormack also said experts had now concluded the fire, the mostly deadly blaze in London since World War II, had started in a fridge freezer.

The blaze has provoked anger and heaped pressure on Prime Minister Theresa May, who is fighting for her political survival after her party lost its parliamentary majority in a snap election at a time when Britain is beginning divorce talks with the European Union.

Police are considering manslaughter charges over the blaze. Source: AFP
Police are considering manslaughter charges over the blaze. Source: AFP

The speed at which the fire engulfed the 24-storey Grenfell Tower raised immediate questions about the external cladding on the block.

Asked if the insulation and aluminium tiles used were acceptable for such buildings, McCormack told reporters: "No they're not."

"All I can say at the moment is they don't pass any of the safety tests. So that will form part of what is a manslaughter investigation," she said.

The Grenfell Tower fire claimed 79 lives. Source: AFP
The Grenfell Tower fire claimed 79 lives. Source: AFP

As well as possible manslaughter, police will consider health and safety offences and breaches of other building regulations.

McCormack said all companies involved in the building and refurbishment of the building would be reviewed.

Britain also ordered an immediate technical examination of the Whirlpool company's Hotpoint fridge model FF175BP, which had not been subject to any recall to establish whether further action should be taken, but said there was no need for owners to switch off their appliances.

Whirlpool Corp's share price had dropped by 4 per cent on Friday, wiping almost $660 million off the company's value.

"We are working with the authorities to obtain access to the appliance so that we can assist with the ongoing investigations," said Whirlpool, the world's largest maker of home appliances.

The apartment block shrouded in smoke. Photo: AAP
The apartment block shrouded in smoke. Photo: AAP

"Words cannot express our sorrow at this terrible tragedy," Whirlpool said in a statement.

The fire has acted as a focal point for anger at local authority funding cuts and, if more buildings are deemed unsafe, the government faces the task of rehousing people within existing social housing facilities which are stretched.

A view of the Grenfell Tower with smoke pouring out. Photo: AAP
A view of the Grenfell Tower with smoke pouring out. Photo: AAP

The government said it was urgently conducting tests on some 600 high-rise buildings in England which have exterior cladding, often added to insulate them or improve the external appearance of ageing blocks. Some councils have begun removing the panels.

Problems have so far been identified in 14 buildings in London, Manchester and elsewhere in England, it added.

Grenfell Tower, in north Kensington, west London, had undergone an STG8.7 million pound refurbishment which was completed in 2016, but residents of the more than 120 apartments had complained about its fire safety.