Grenfell Tower death toll may FALL below 80 as police probe eight 'false' compensation claims – but there could be manslaughter charges

Grenfell Tower death toll may FALL below 80 as police probe eight 'false' compensation claims – but there could be manslaughter charges
The fraud cases involve people who claimed either that family members had been killed in the blaze, or that they had lived in the tower themselves and lost their homes and possessions.
Two people have been charged and a third remains on bail.
Detectives would not say how many people were falsely reported missing, but they said fraudulent claims 'have had an impact' on the number of people feared dead, which they now believe is less than 80.
Police are also examining four reports of thefts from flats on the lower floors, which were not destroyed by fire.
Officers are still searching the tower for human remains and have used fragments of teeth and bone to identify 60 victims so far.
But they warned the search could last until the New Year – meaning the true death toll will not be known for months.

The latest victim to be identified was named yesterday as Mehdi El-Wahabi, eight, who died with several members of his family in their 21st-floor flat.
His parents and elder brother Yasin, 20, have been confirmed among the dead while his sister Nurhouda, 15, remains missing but presumed dead.
Mehdi's father Abdul Aziz El-Wahabi, 52, spoke to relatives from inside the burning building.
At the time, his sister Hana said: 'He said he had been told to stay inside, stay in one room together and put towels under the door. I told him to leave.
'He said he was going to come. Then I called him and he said there was too much smoke.'

The latest victim to be identified was named yesterday as Mehdi El-Wahabi, eight, who died with several members of his family in



their 21st-floor flat.
His parents and elder brother Yasin, 20, have been confirmed among the dead while his sister Nurhouda, 15, remains missing but presumed dead.
Mehdi's father Abdul Aziz El-Wahabi, 52, spoke to relatives from inside the burning building.
At the time, his sister Hana said: 'He said he had been told to stay inside, stay in one room together and put towels under the door. I told him to leave.
'He said he was going to come. Then I called him and he said there was too much smoke.'

The latest victim to be identified was named yesterday as Mehdi El-Wahabi, eight, who died with several members of his family in their 21st-floor flat.
His parents and elder brother Yasin, 20, have been confirmed among the dead while his sister Nurhouda, 15, remains missing but presumed dead.
Mehdi's father Abdul Aziz El-Wahabi, 52, spoke to relatives from inside the burning building.
At the time, his sister Hana said: 'He said he had been told to stay inside, stay in one room together and put towels under the door. I told him to leave.
'He said he was going to come. Then I called him and he said there was too much smoke.'

Detective Superintendent Fiona McCormack said police were investigating whether the thefts could have been carried out by intruders, or by those authorised to be inside the shell of the tower, including police, scientists and contractors.
She said round-the-clock security at the tower had been increased but apologised to families about the thefts, adding: 'I can't explain to you the devastation that every police officer feels about that.'
Commander Stuart Cundy said the death toll 'may come down a little bit' but warned it was unlikely to fall dramatically.