Canadian police are investigating the death of five people killed in the implosion of the submersible Titan.
Superintendent Kent Osmond of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed Saturday that he was investigating the circumstances.
He said a team of investigators had been set up for the “sole purpose” of determining whether a criminal investigation would be warranted.
Interviews took place on Saturday with people aboard Titan’s main support vessel, the Polar Prince, as part of the force’s investigations, the official added.
“Following the U.S. Coast Guard’s announcement earlier this week that wreckage had been located from the submarine and that all five on board were presumed dead, we will now look into the circumstances that led to these deaths,” he said. said Supervisor Osmon.
Asked if the force had any suspicion of criminal activity, Supt Osmond replied: “There is no suspicion of criminal activity per se, but the RCMP are taking the first steps to assess whether or not we will pursue this way”.
(Clockwise from top left) Those killed were Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Stockton Rush, Hamish Harding, Suleman Dawood and his father Shahzada Dawood
On Thursday, pieces of the diver were discovered at the bottom of the sea, only about 400m from the wreck of the Titanic.
The US Coast Guard said the ship had suffered a catastrophic implosion that would have killed everyone on board.
Canadian police appear to be leading the criminal investigation because the vessel towing the submarine left Newfoundland and was a Canadian-flagged vessel.
Several deepwater and engineering experts, including a former employee, were seen to have raised serious concerns about the diver’s safety with the company boss.
However, Stockton Rush, who also died in the incident, is said to have dismissed the concerns.
Many of them focused on the new carbon fiber design used for the hull and the fact that the submersible had not been certified by outside agencies.
Two sub-victims expressed ‘concern’
Filmmakers and filmmakers – including Britain’s Ross Kemp – They have since revealed that they declined the possibility of traveling in the submarine due to fears about its capacity.
Three British citizens and a French Titanic expert died alongside Rush after paying hundreds of thousands of pounds to see the famous wreck.
The submarine Titan lost contact less than two hours after its descent last Sunday.
Titan’s sub-victim is seen in the footage
The latest tributes to the victims were paid today by the sons of billionaire private jet dealer Hamish Harding.
One of them described him as “the best father I could have ever asked for [who] inspired me more than anyone will ever know.”
In addition to the police investigation, Canadian security officials have announced their own investigation.
The Transport Safety Board (TSB) said on Friday it had sent a team to St John’s in Newfoundland to gather information and interview people.
