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The 72 deaths in the Grenfell Tower fire in London in 2017 were all “avoidable” a report into the tragedy has concluded.

Delivered on Wednesday following a six-year inquiry, the final report highlights decades of failure of the United Kingdom government, indifference to safety by authorities, dishonest and incompetent manufacturers and installers of building materials, and a lack of strategy by firefighters were the main contributors to the shocking death toll.

Those in the 24-storey block were “badly failed” over many years, said the inquiry chairman, Martin Moore-Bick. He added that the inquiry took longer than hoped due to its broad scope and because “many more matters of concern” had been discovered than originally expected.

The long-awaited report says the elements identified contributed to varying degrees. This was largely due to incompetence, the chairman said, but in some cases due to “dishonesty and greed”.

The lapses and mistakes detailed in the report could trigger criminal charges, although police have said charges will not be filed before 2026.

This is a developing story. More to come…