A criminal investigation has been launched into the deadly fire at a London high-rise that left at least 17 residents dead.

“As the police, we investigate criminal offenses. I am not sitting here and saying there are criminal offenses that have been committed, that’s why you do an investigation,” Metropolitan Police Commander Stuart Cundy said Thursday.

An unknown number of people are still missing after the blaze that broke out early Wednesday at Grenfell Tower in west London.

The cause of the blaze has been under investigation, but some reports have said it was sparked by a faulty refrigerator.

With Post wires