The 96 Liverpool fans who died in the Hillsborough Stadium disaster were "unlawfully killed" because of errors by the police, a jury has concluded. Relatives of the victims of the 1989 disaster, some wearing Liverpool scarves, cried tears of joy and sadness after the verdict was delivered in new inquests into Britain's worst sporting disaster. Fans chanted "Justice for the 96" and sang the Premier League club's anthem, "You'll Never Walk Alone".

Families spent more than a quarter of a century campaigning after being angered by the verdicts of accidental death at the original inquests following the April 1989 FA Cup semi-final match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. The original inquest verdicts were overturned in 2012 following a far-reaching inquiry into the disaster.

Hillsborough verdict
Margaret Aspinall of the Hillsborough Family Support Group reacts after the verdict Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Hillsborough verdict
Relatives embrace at the end of the inquest into the Hillsborough disaster Andrew Yates/Reuters
Hillsborough verdict
A relative reacts after the jury delivered its verdict at the inquest into the Hillsborough disaster Andrew Yates/Reuters
Hillsborough verdict
Relatives of the victims of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster react following the conclusion of the inquest into the disaster Geoff Caddick/AFP
Hillsborough verdict
Relatives of Hillsborough victims celebrate the verdict in the inquest Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Hillsborough verdict
A man holds a banner bearing an image of Hillsborough victim Henry Burke Paul Ellis/AFP
Hillsborough verdict
Emotional relatives hold photos of Peter McDonnell, who was 21 when he died at Hillsborough Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Hillsborough verdict
Relatives of Hillsborough victims hug as they depart Birchwood Park Dave Thompson/Getty Images
Hillsborough verdict
A relative cries after the conclusion of the Hillsborough inquest Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Hillsborough verdict
Relatives of the Hillsborough victims hold up a 'Justice' scarf after hearing the conclusions of the Hillsborough inquest Dave Thompson/Getty Images
Hillsborough verdict
A man wearing a Liverpool scarf reacts after the verdict Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Hillsborough verdict
A relative of the Hillsborough victims talks on the phone after hearing the verdict Dave Thompson/Getty Images
Hillsborough verdict
Relatives of Hillsborough victims hug as they leave Birchwood Park after hearing the conclusions of the Hillsborough inquest Dave Thompson/Getty Images

The jury, which had been considering 14 questions set out by the coroner, concluded the deaths constituted unlawful killing by a 7-2 majority, prompting sobbing and cheers at the hearing. The jury also found that police planning errors "caused or contributed" to the situation that led to the crush, while confirming that the behaviour of fans did not cause or contribute to the tragedy.

The verdicts are not the end of the fight for the victims' families. The Crown Prosecution Service said it will "formally consider whether any criminal charges should be brought against any individual or corporate body."

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