UK authorities to hold new inquest into stadium tragedy

LONDON – British authorities will launch a new inquest into the deaths of 96 fans in the country's worst ever tragedy at a soccer match.

The decision Tuesday comes after an independent panel reviewed hundreds of thousands of pages of documents relating to the crush at Hillsborough stadium in 1989 that killed fans of the Liverpool soccer team. The independent review vindicated efforts by the families of victims, who have been trying to get a full accounting of the incident.

Liverpool lawmaker Steve Rotheram says it is now undeniable that the first inquest was unsound. The initial inquest said the deaths were accidental.

In Britain, an inquest is held to determine the facts whenever someone dies unexpectedly, violently or in disputed circumstances. Inquests do not determine criminal liability.