The US Department of Labor has referred BP's Texas City refinery, where 15 people died and 170 were injured this year in an explosion, to the Department of Justice for possible "criminal action".

John Miles, regional administrator for the department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, said the agency found more than 300 health and safety violations at the refinery, and in September fined it a maximum allowable $21m. Yet, given the nature of the violations, OSHA decided to take the matter further. The DoJ did not immediately comment.