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| Anger grows over tower fire amid claims cladding was unsafe | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Police have launched a criminal inquiry into the Grenfell Tower blaze as it emerged that cladding panels similar to those likely to have been used on the 24-storey building have been widely prohibited on tall buildings in the US since 2012. | Police have launched a criminal inquiry into the Grenfell Tower blaze as it emerged that cladding panels similar to those likely to have been used on the 24-storey building have been widely prohibited on tall buildings in the US since 2012. |
| Under the US building code, the use of metal composite panels without a fire-retardant core has been banned since 2012 on buildings over 50ft (15 metres) tall in various circumstances – including where exterior walls are required to have a fire-resistance rating, as well as in restaurants, care homes, hospitals and concert halls. | Under the US building code, the use of metal composite panels without a fire-retardant core has been banned since 2012 on buildings over 50ft (15 metres) tall in various circumstances – including where exterior walls are required to have a fire-resistance rating, as well as in restaurants, care homes, hospitals and concert halls. |
| The death toll from the fire currently stands at 17, and police have said it will rise. Of the injured, 30 people remain in hospital, 15 of whom are critically ill. | The death toll from the fire currently stands at 17, and police have said it will rise. Of the injured, 30 people remain in hospital, 15 of whom are critically ill. |
| The manufacturer of the cladding on Grenfell Tower, Reynobond, produces different versions of the cladding with a plastic or fire-retardant mineral core, and the latter “guarantees higher resistance to fire”, according to its website. | The manufacturer of the cladding on Grenfell Tower, Reynobond, produces different versions of the cladding with a plastic or fire-retardant mineral core, and the latter “guarantees higher resistance to fire”, according to its website. |
| But observers of the way the fire spread suspect that more flammable, plastic-filled panels were used. | But observers of the way the fire spread suspect that more flammable, plastic-filled panels were used. |
| A Q&A page on the Reynobond website says, “Question: When do I need fire-resistant (FR) versus polyethylene (PE) Reynobond? The answer to this, in part, depends on local building codes. However, the International Building Code [used in the US] states that in all cases over 50ft above grade, FR is needed.” | A Q&A page on the Reynobond website says, “Question: When do I need fire-resistant (FR) versus polyethylene (PE) Reynobond? The answer to this, in part, depends on local building codes. However, the International Building Code [used in the US] states that in all cases over 50ft above grade, FR is needed.” |
| One architect familiar with the panels said the fire-resistant version was only “slightly more expensive and slightly less high-performing [as a thermal insulator] than the polymer filled ones”. | One architect familiar with the panels said the fire-resistant version was only “slightly more expensive and slightly less high-performing [as a thermal insulator] than the polymer filled ones”. |
| On Thursday night, the Liberal Democrats called for the cladding used on Grenfell Tower to be banned in the UK. “The government must urgently bring UK fire safety standards into line with those abroad,” said MP Tom Brake. | On Thursday night, the Liberal Democrats called for the cladding used on Grenfell Tower to be banned in the UK. “The government must urgently bring UK fire safety standards into line with those abroad,” said MP Tom Brake. |
| Theresa May made a low-key visit to the scene in north Kensington on Thursday. She was pictured talking to fire officers and staring up at the blackened remains of the tower, but was criticised for leaving without talking to residents. | Theresa May made a low-key visit to the scene in north Kensington on Thursday. She was pictured talking to fire officers and staring up at the blackened remains of the tower, but was criticised for leaving without talking to residents. |
| The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, also spent time at the scene, but stayed on to meet survivors. At St Clement’s church, one of the centres coordinating the community response, he was seen putting his arm around some of the affected residents. | The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, also spent time at the scene, but stayed on to meet survivors. At St Clement’s church, one of the centres coordinating the community response, he was seen putting his arm around some of the affected residents. |
| “We have to get to the bottom of this,” he said. “The truth has got to come out and it will.” | “We have to get to the bottom of this,” he said. “The truth has got to come out and it will.” |
| Later, in a televised recording made away from the scene, the prime minister announced the setting up of a public inquiry into the fire, which spread with a ferocity and speed that firefighters had not expected. | Later, in a televised recording made away from the scene, the prime minister announced the setting up of a public inquiry into the fire, which spread with a ferocity and speed that firefighters had not expected. |
| “We need to know what happened,” May added. “We owe that to the families, to the people who have lost loved ones, friends and their homes in which they lived.” | “We need to know what happened,” May added. “We owe that to the families, to the people who have lost loved ones, friends and their homes in which they lived.” |
| One of those critical of the PM was MP Harriet Harman, who tweeted: “She should have been prepared to listen to them. Not OK to speak to them via TV.” | One of those critical of the PM was MP Harriet Harman, who tweeted: “She should have been prepared to listen to them. Not OK to speak to them via TV.” |
| Police have said that some of the dead from the devastating blaze may never be identified, as officers warned that the painful process of retrieving the victims could take months. | Police have said that some of the dead from the devastating blaze may never be identified, as officers warned that the painful process of retrieving the victims could take months. |
| Detectives added that they were combing through scores of reports of missing people who lived in Grenfell Tower as they attempted to end the agony of those who were waiting for news of friends and relatives. | Detectives added that they were combing through scores of reports of missing people who lived in Grenfell Tower as they attempted to end the agony of those who were waiting for news of friends and relatives. |
| Among those still missing are entire families, a six-month-old baby, a young Italian couple, and a five-year-old boy who lost hold of an adult’s hand as his family struggled through thick smoke to escape the blaze. | Among those still missing are entire families, a six-month-old baby, a young Italian couple, and a five-year-old boy who lost hold of an adult’s hand as his family struggled through thick smoke to escape the blaze. |
| Commander Stuart Cundy of the Metropolitan police said the absolute priority was retrieving bodies and identifying the dead, as part of an ongoing investigation carried out with the fire service. As well as the confirmed death toll of 17, 30 people remain in hospital, 15 of whom are critically ill. | Commander Stuart Cundy of the Metropolitan police said the absolute priority was retrieving bodies and identifying the dead, as part of an ongoing investigation carried out with the fire service. As well as the confirmed death toll of 17, 30 people remain in hospital, 15 of whom are critically ill. |
| The senior officer said that 5,000 missing persons calls had been made to the police casualty bureau, many involving multiple reports concerning one individual; one person was reported missing 46 times. As a result, it was hard to be sure precisely how many remained to be accounted for. | The senior officer said that 5,000 missing persons calls had been made to the police casualty bureau, many involving multiple reports concerning one individual; one person was reported missing 46 times. As a result, it was hard to be sure precisely how many remained to be accounted for. |
| The senior officer said he hoped the number of fatalities would not reach more than 100, although he would not give any more precise estimate as to how many had died. | The senior officer said he hoped the number of fatalities would not reach more than 100, although he would not give any more precise estimate as to how many had died. |
| Responding to questions, Cundy said: “I like to hope it [the fatality count] isn’t going to be triple figures, I really do,” he said. | Responding to questions, Cundy said: “I like to hope it [the fatality count] isn’t going to be triple figures, I really do,” he said. |
| Six of the 17 confirmed dead had been found outside the tower block, and 11 were inside the building. Police have been able to make preliminary identification of six people so far; one was identified from a passport found by the body. | Six of the 17 confirmed dead had been found outside the tower block, and 11 were inside the building. Police have been able to make preliminary identification of six people so far; one was identified from a passport found by the body. |
| But Cundy warned that the business of identification could take several months to conclude. “I anticipate that is going to take a considerable period of time,” he said. | But Cundy warned that the business of identification could take several months to conclude. “I anticipate that is going to take a considerable period of time,” he said. |
| “Not just the immediate recovery of the bodies we have found, but the full search of that whole building – we could be talking weeks, we could be talking months. It is a very long process. There is a risk that sadly we may not be able to identify everybody.” | “Not just the immediate recovery of the bodies we have found, but the full search of that whole building – we could be talking weeks, we could be talking months. It is a very long process. There is a risk that sadly we may not be able to identify everybody.” |
| Writing in the Guardian, David Lammy, the Labour MP for Tottenham, said that arrests and prosecutions should follow the deadly blaze. | Writing in the Guardian, David Lammy, the Labour MP for Tottenham, said that arrests and prosecutions should follow the deadly blaze. |
| “Don’t let them tell you it’s a tragedy. It’s not a tragedy – it’s a monstrous crime. Corporate manslaughter. They were warned by the residents that there was an obvious risk of catastrophe. They looked the other way,” he wrote. | “Don’t let them tell you it’s a tragedy. It’s not a tragedy – it’s a monstrous crime. Corporate manslaughter. They were warned by the residents that there was an obvious risk of catastrophe. They looked the other way,” he wrote. |
| Police described the operation to search the gutted, blackened and unstable remains of the tower as one of most difficult operations the Met had faced. | Police described the operation to search the gutted, blackened and unstable remains of the tower as one of most difficult operations the Met had faced. |
| The process of identifying the bodies will be carried out by forensic science teams and will involve experts who worked on identifying victims of the south Asian tsunami in 2004. | The process of identifying the bodies will be carried out by forensic science teams and will involve experts who worked on identifying victims of the south Asian tsunami in 2004. |
| Dany Cotton, the London fire brigade commissioner, said firefighters had to withdraw from the building on Thursday because it was unstable. | Dany Cotton, the London fire brigade commissioner, said firefighters had to withdraw from the building on Thursday because it was unstable. |
| Special search dogs were sent in to search during the day, but the full search could not take place until firefighters and the local authority had built structures to shore up the tower so it was safe to enter. | Special search dogs were sent in to search during the day, but the full search could not take place until firefighters and the local authority had built structures to shore up the tower so it was safe to enter. |
| Cotton said firefighters had identified the flat where the blaze had begun and carried out initial investigations. “I want to be realistic – it is a very slow and painstaking process,” she said. | Cotton said firefighters had identified the flat where the blaze had begun and carried out initial investigations. “I want to be realistic – it is a very slow and painstaking process,” she said. |
| Throughout Thursday, details began to emerge of heartrending last moments of those who had died. The family of an Italian architecture student, Gloria Trevisan, and her partner, Marco Gottardi, said there was “no hope” of finding them alive. | Throughout Thursday, details began to emerge of heartrending last moments of those who had died. The family of an Italian architecture student, Gloria Trevisan, and her partner, Marco Gottardi, said there was “no hope” of finding them alive. |
| Maria Cristina Sandrin, the family’s lawyer, said that in a last phone call to her mother at 3am from her flat on the 23rd floor, Trevisan said goodbye. “She said: ‘Thank you, mother, for what you have done for me.’” | Maria Cristina Sandrin, the family’s lawyer, said that in a last phone call to her mother at 3am from her flat on the 23rd floor, Trevisan said goodbye. “She said: ‘Thank you, mother, for what you have done for me.’” |
| The mother of five-year-old Isaac Paulos described how she had wrapped a wet towel around his head as the family tried to escape with neighbours from the 18th floor. | The mother of five-year-old Isaac Paulos described how she had wrapped a wet towel around his head as the family tried to escape with neighbours from the 18th floor. |
| As they were being led to safety through the darkness by a neighbour, his hand somehow slipped from her grasp. “When I got outside, I realised Isaac wasn’t there,” said Genet Shawo. | As they were being led to safety through the darkness by a neighbour, his hand somehow slipped from her grasp. “When I got outside, I realised Isaac wasn’t there,” said Genet Shawo. |
| In support centres and at the scene of the fire, the anger and frustration of residents began to bubble over. A small protest broke out beneath the tower block, and one man was led away by police during a visit to the scene by the London Mayor Sadiq Khan. | In support centres and at the scene of the fire, the anger and frustration of residents began to bubble over. A small protest broke out beneath the tower block, and one man was led away by police during a visit to the scene by the London Mayor Sadiq Khan. |
| At St Clement’s church, local residents Eve Wedderburn and Dayo Gilmour tried to speak to Corbyn, but were blocked by volunteers. | At St Clement’s church, local residents Eve Wedderburn and Dayo Gilmour tried to speak to Corbyn, but were blocked by volunteers. |
| “We want to tell him that we fear a cover-up over the fire, and that the council will use this as an opportunity to move people out of the borough,” said Wedderburn. | “We want to tell him that we fear a cover-up over the fire, and that the council will use this as an opportunity to move people out of the borough,” said Wedderburn. |
| Rock Feilding-Mellen, the deputy leader of Kensington & Chelsea council, where the tower is situated, said: “There will obviously have to be important questions and we understand the anger … my understanding is, very few councils and housing associations working on renovating 1960s and 1970s tower blocks have retro-fitted sprinklers, but that will have to be looked at in much greater detail.” | Rock Feilding-Mellen, the deputy leader of Kensington & Chelsea council, where the tower is situated, said: “There will obviously have to be important questions and we understand the anger … my understanding is, very few councils and housing associations working on renovating 1960s and 1970s tower blocks have retro-fitted sprinklers, but that will have to be looked at in much greater detail.” |
| Many residents of blocks close to Grenfell Tower were still excluded from their homes on Thursday, although a few were allowed back under escort to collect personal items. | Many residents of blocks close to Grenfell Tower were still excluded from their homes on Thursday, although a few were allowed back under escort to collect personal items. |
| One family of six, who declined to give their names, said they had slept in their car on Wednesday night after waiting for hours for the council to provide accommodation. | One family of six, who declined to give their names, said they had slept in their car on Wednesday night after waiting for hours for the council to provide accommodation. |
| “We just got too tired waiting. We’d been up since 1am, when we were evacuated,” said one of them. | “We just got too tired waiting. We’d been up since 1am, when we were evacuated,” said one of them. |
| Kirstie Allsopp, the television presenter, who lives in the area, said the number of donations had been overwhelming. She echoed messages from the council, who said the public should stop donating because the centres could not cope with the sheer scale of the generosity. | Kirstie Allsopp, the television presenter, who lives in the area, said the number of donations had been overwhelming. She echoed messages from the council, who said the public should stop donating because the centres could not cope with the sheer scale of the generosity. |
| “People have been so generous … there has been staggering generosity. It is so heartwarming, but physically we cannot cope with any more donations in the area,” she said. | “People have been so generous … there has been staggering generosity. It is so heartwarming, but physically we cannot cope with any more donations in the area,” she said. |
| The borough said it had rehoused 103 households, 49 of whom had lived in Grenfell Tower, and 54 others whose homes were inside the police cordon. | The borough said it had rehoused 103 households, 49 of whom had lived in Grenfell Tower, and 54 others whose homes were inside the police cordon. |
| The families were being put up in hotels in west and central London. Housing minister Alok Sharma also told MPs that the government guaranteed that every single family would be rehoused in the local area, not moved out. | The families were being put up in hotels in west and central London. Housing minister Alok Sharma also told MPs that the government guaranteed that every single family would be rehoused in the local area, not moved out. |
| If you are concerned about anyone you know who might be missing after the fire, please call 0800 0961 233. | If you are concerned about anyone you know who might be missing after the fire, please call 0800 0961 233. |