Update following conclusion of inquest into Bismark House mill deaths

Detective Chief Superintendent Lewis Hughes, GMP’s lead for Disaster Victim Identification, said: “From the moment we tragically discovered that four victims had lost their lives in Bismark House industrial premises, we have ensured that Uoc Van Nguyen, Cuong Van Chu, Duong Van Nguyen and Nam Thanh Le remain at the heart of our operation from that point on. 

“This investigation has been extremely challenging from both practical and investigative perspectives. Despite thousands of tonnes of rubble and multiple remaining hazards from the fire and 10 weeks of demolition work, we have done our utmost to ensure we recovered all four men with as much humanity and dignity as possible, over what was a six-month period. 

“The loss of these four men in Greater Manchester left families devastated on the other side of the world. GMP has been determined throughout this process to ensure each of their families are kept updated and supported by specially trained officers and, ultimately, we hope they have got some of the answers they so desperately deserve.

“Sadly, we’ll never know exactly how the men came to be in Bismark House whether they were there entirely of their own volition or if they were vulnerable men who were criminally exploited. Exploitation takes a variety of forms and is happening in Greater Manchester. If you are concerned about exploitation or spot the signs, please report it to the police or Crimestoppers, anonymously, so we can take action, protect victims, and pursue perpetrators.

Relating to IOPC investigation: “While no lives could have been saved in this tragic incident, it is to our regret that delays in response to initial information, linking the missing victims to the fire, did significantly increase challenges around the subsequent recovery process and criminal investigation, due to the protracted demolition work that took place in-between.

“We referred this matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct and have fully cooperated with their investigation.

“Despite a delay in GMP’s response to initial calls in the weeks that followed the fire, it was not immediately clear that victims were amongst the considerable rubble, and there was no opportunity to save the four victims, who had already tragically lost their lives in the fire, several weeks prior.”