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Liverpool to remember Hillsborough victims on anniversary of stadium disaster

  /  autty

Liverpool will remember the lives of the 96 supporters that lost their lives at Hillsborough, with Thursday marking the 32nd anniversary of the stadium disaster.

Men, women and children were killed in the fatal crush on the Leppings Lane terrace at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Sheffield Wednesday's ground on April 15, 1989.

Liverpool will mark the occasion privately, with players and staff observing a minute's silence.

Floral wreaths will be laid at the Hillsborough memorial at Anfield, while flags will be flown at half-mast.

A statement from Liverpool on Thursday read: "Liverpool Football Club remembers the 96 supporters who died at Hillsborough, on the 32nd anniversary of the disaster.

"As a result of the events on April 15, 1989, at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, 96 children, women and men lost their lives.

"For more than three decades, the bereaved families and survivors of the tragedy have demonstrated remarkable courage, dignity and resilience.

"In April 2016, an inquest jury concluded that the 96 were unlawfully killed and that no role was played by the supporters in causing the disaster.

"Our thoughts, as always, are with all those affected by the tragedy at Hillsborough and the 96 fans who will never be forgotten."

Liverpool and Real Madrid held a minute's silence at Anfield ahead of their Champions League quarter-final second leg on Wednesday night to mark the anniversary.

Last week, it was announced that the Hillsborough Family Support Group had disbanded, with former chair Margaret Aspinall saying it was "time for families to move on".

The group spent decades campaigning for justice for the victims, but Aspinall - who lost her 18-year-old son James in the tragedy - told LFC TV: "We have gone as far as we can".

The trial of two former police officers and a force solicitor charged with perverting the course of justice following the disaster is due to start on April 19.

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