BREAKING: Six individuals to face charges over Hillsborough disaster

By The Newsroom
Published 28th Jun 2017, 12:39 BST
Updated 18th Jul 2017, 08:44 BST
Fans trying to avoid the crush at Hillsborough in 1989Fans trying to avoid the crush at Hillsborough in 1989
Fans trying to avoid the crush at Hillsborough in 1989
Criminal charges are to be brought over the deaths of 96 football fans at a game in Sheffield 28 years ago, it was announced this morning.

The Crown Prosecution Service today revealed that six individuals are to face charges over the disaster at Hillsborough football stadium in 1989 in which fans were crushed to death in pens at the Leppings Lane end after a gate was opened to allow crowds of fans outside to flood in.

Families of the 96 men, women and children killed in the crush were informed of the charging decisions by Sue Hemming, the CPS's head of special crime and counter-terrorism division, in a private meeting earlier this morning.

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At 11.30am Ms Hemming made the charging decisions public after reviewing files from Operation Resolve, which investigated the causes of the disaster, and the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which looked at an alleged police cover up in the aftermath of the disaster.

Hillsborough football stadiumHillsborough football stadium
Hillsborough football stadium

The documents, relating to 23 suspects, including individuals and organisations, were passed to the CPS earlier this year.

Last year new inquests into the deaths of the Liverpool fans ruled that they were unlawfully killed in the disaster, which happened at an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest.

Former Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield, match commander on the day of the disaster is charged with manslaughter by gross negligence.Sheffield Wednesday Football Club Secretary at the time, Graham Mackrell, is charged with contravention of terms of the Safety at Sports Grounds Act 1975.