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| Version 10 | Version 11 |
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| Grenfell Tower fire: at least 30 confirmed dead – latest updates | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 12.26pm BST | |
| 12:26 | |
| Met: 'we don't expect survivors' | |
| There is nothing to suggest the fire was started deliberately, Cundy said. | |
| The investigation into the cause of the fire will take weeks, he added. | |
| “Sadly we do not expect there to be any survivors,” Cundy said. | |
| 12.24pm BST | |
| 12:24 | |
| 30 people confirmed dead | |
| Met Police Commander Stuart Cundy said “we know that at least 30 people who have died.” | |
| One of those included someone who was taken to hospital, he said. | |
| The bodies have been taken to a morgue, but more bodies remain in the building, Cundy said. | |
| We always knew that the death toll would be increase, Cundy said. | |
| 12.21pm BST | |
| 12:21 | |
| The government appears to be determined to show that ministers are willing to listen to victims of the fire today, after the prime minister refused to do so yesterday. | |
| Communities secretary Sajid Javid said the government was doing all it can. | |
| Speaking to the BBC after visiting the Westway Sports Centre, he said: | |
| I’m listening to the victims about some of their particular needs. I heard one family just say they have sadly lost their father, they don’t know yet. The mother has asked if her son, who doesn’t live locally, can be with her, and we have said absolutely we should be helping in every way we can to try to bring comfort to these families at this very very difficult time. | |
| 12.11pm BST | |
| 12:11 | |
| The former chancellor George Osborne is using his new position as editor of the London Evening Standard to criticise the way his former colleagues are handling the aftermath of the fire. | |
| 1st edition @EveningStandard has Commons Leader confronted over #GrenfellTower + inside the Tory campaign & exclusive Andy Murray interview pic.twitter.com/Dn1yhGTZ3o | |
| Our @adamstoon1 @EveningStandard today as anger grows #GrenfellTower pic.twitter.com/SMPLMCZnXo | |
| Updated | |
| at 12.14pm BST | |
| 12.07pm BST | |
| 12:07 | |
| Jamie Grierson | |
| There were emotionally charged scenes as the Queen and Duke of Cambridge left the Westway sports centre. | |
| Stood beneath the rumbling Westway flyover, the Queen and Prince William had finished meeting firefighters and police officers who responded to the Grenfell Tower fire, when a distraught man beckoned them to come over. | |
| Clutching a missing appeal poster for siblings Firdaws and Yahya, Rami Mohamed said he was a friend of the missing children’s family. | |
| The Queen climbed into her Range Rover escort as the Prince apologised and pledged to “come back” to the Westway centre, which is operating as a relief centre for displaced evacuees and family members of the missing. | |
| When the royal family departed, Mohamed said he was frustrated that so many people arrived for the monarch but felt like his friends were being left behind. | |
| The Queen and the prince spent about 30 minutes in the centre visiting those affected, the day after Theresa May declined to visit the area over security concerns. | |
| Rami Mohamed, clutching a missing appeal poster of siblings Firdaws and Yahya, beckoned the Queen and Prince William to come over to him. pic.twitter.com/UykxIy4Qx7 | |
| Updated | |
| at 12.13pm BST | |
| 12.01pm BST | |
| 12:01 | |
| Theresa May visits victims at hospital | |
| Theresa May has been filmed entering the Chelsea and Westminster where nine of the victims are being treated. | |
| An update from NHS England on Thursday said seven victims of the fire were in critical care at the hospital. | |
| May is facing mounting criticism of her response to the tragedy after she failed to meet residents on a visit to the scene on Thursday. | |
| 11.41am BST | 11.41am BST |
| 11:41 | 11:41 |
| Here’s confirmation of the Queen meeting residents before Theresa May managed to do so. | Here’s confirmation of the Queen meeting residents before Theresa May managed to do so. |
| The Queen and The Duke are meeting members of the emergency services, as well as local residents and community representatives. pic.twitter.com/Mx9ZaVNSU7 | The Queen and The Duke are meeting members of the emergency services, as well as local residents and community representatives. pic.twitter.com/Mx9ZaVNSU7 |
| The Queen and Duke of Cambridge are talking to firefighters outside the Westway sports centre #Grenfell pic.twitter.com/TP37zdjlX2 | The Queen and Duke of Cambridge are talking to firefighters outside the Westway sports centre #Grenfell pic.twitter.com/TP37zdjlX2 |
| Theresa May continues to face criticism for her handling of the aftermath of the fire. | Theresa May continues to face criticism for her handling of the aftermath of the fire. |
| So Corbyn met the victims. Sadiq Khan met the victims. The Queen has met the victims. But the PM sent Andrea Leadsom instead? Just unreal https://t.co/jEqb7XrbNk | So Corbyn met the victims. Sadiq Khan met the victims. The Queen has met the victims. But the PM sent Andrea Leadsom instead? Just unreal https://t.co/jEqb7XrbNk |
| The Queen has just arrived at the relief centre to meet those affected so I think the "security fears" argument for May is rather redundant | The Queen has just arrived at the relief centre to meet those affected so I think the "security fears" argument for May is rather redundant |
| The Queen & Prince William look pretty safe & secure to me right now Ms May. #GrenfellTower #LondonFire | The Queen & Prince William look pretty safe & secure to me right now Ms May. #GrenfellTower #LondonFire |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.45am BST | at 11.45am BST |
| 11.34am BST | 11.34am BST |
| 11:34 | 11:34 |
| David Pegg | David Pegg |
| The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has called for homes to be “requisitioned if necessary” in order to house those left homeless by the Grenfell Tower disaster. He also condemned the practice of buy-to-leave. | |
| “It is hardly acceptable that in London you have luxury buildings and luxury flats kept empty, as land banks for the future, while the homeless and the poor look for somewhere to live,” he said. | “It is hardly acceptable that in London you have luxury buildings and luxury flats kept empty, as land banks for the future, while the homeless and the poor look for somewhere to live,” he said. |
| Kensington and Chelsea has more empty properties than any other borough in the capital, government figures indicate. | Kensington and Chelsea has more empty properties than any other borough in the capital, government figures indicate. |
| Data on occupied and vacant housing stock from the Department of Communities and Local Government shows that 1,399 dwellings in the borough were long-term vacant as of last year. | Data on occupied and vacant housing stock from the Department of Communities and Local Government shows that 1,399 dwellings in the borough were long-term vacant as of last year. |
| With a total of 86,920 dwellings, that amounts to about 1.61% of all dwellings. ‘Long-term vacant’ properties have been empty for more than six months, so the figure excludes properties that might be between sales or temporarily unoccupied. | |
| Kensington and Chelsea, one of the richest boroughs in the country, imposes an “empty homes premium” of an extra 50% on the council tax payable for uninhabited properties. The second highest proportion of empty homes was in Camden, where 1,114 homes, or 1.09% of the total, were long-term vacant. In Hackney, the figure was 1,046, or 0.97%. | |
| Reasons for homes being left empty are often complex. In some instances the home will have fallen into such a state of disrepair that renovating it is too expensive for the owner. In other instances it can be as a result of “buy to leave”, whereby investors acquire property solely as an asset that will appreciate thanks to London’s booming property market. | Reasons for homes being left empty are often complex. In some instances the home will have fallen into such a state of disrepair that renovating it is too expensive for the owner. In other instances it can be as a result of “buy to leave”, whereby investors acquire property solely as an asset that will appreciate thanks to London’s booming property market. |
| There are an array of other measures councils can take to reduce vacant housing stock, such as financing the renovation of decrepit properties, and even mechanisms to force landlords to return properties to use. But some are so complicated that they are “ignored” or not used. | There are an array of other measures councils can take to reduce vacant housing stock, such as financing the renovation of decrepit properties, and even mechanisms to force landlords to return properties to use. But some are so complicated that they are “ignored” or not used. |
| Last year the Guardian established that more than 8,500 homes across the capital had been empty for more than two years. 1,100 had been left empty for more than a decade. | Last year the Guardian established that more than 8,500 homes across the capital had been empty for more than two years. 1,100 had been left empty for more than a decade. |
| Updated | |
| at 12.06pm BST | |
| 11.26am BST | 11.26am BST |
| 11:26 | 11:26 |
| Sarah Marsh | Sarah Marsh |
| These are the top “how to help” questions being asked on Google. | These are the top “how to help” questions being asked on Google. |
| "How to help London fire victims?" - London fire: top UK questions on helping in the last 24 hours pic.twitter.com/BIJJNx0Bn8 | "How to help London fire victims?" - London fire: top UK questions on helping in the last 24 hours pic.twitter.com/BIJJNx0Bn8 |
| Here are the answers: | Here are the answers: |
| How to help London fire victims? | How to help London fire victims? |
| Many have given food and clothes, writing messages of support and donating to various fundraising websites. But volunteers are struggling to cope with the amount of physical donations, and have suggest cash donations would be more helpful. | Many have given food and clothes, writing messages of support and donating to various fundraising websites. But volunteers are struggling to cope with the amount of physical donations, and have suggest cash donations would be more helpful. |
| Thanks to everyone tweeting and asking to help!❤ Pls hold off on donations for now. All centres are currently full. #Grenfell #GrenfellTower pic.twitter.com/pv6AlQs44G | Thanks to everyone tweeting and asking to help!❤ Pls hold off on donations for now. All centres are currently full. #Grenfell #GrenfellTower pic.twitter.com/pv6AlQs44G |
| How to donate to London fire victims?Donation drop-off points have received a huge number of items. Please check what’s needed before heading to chosen collection points. Donation centres within the Grenfell area are particularly inundated with donations. Harrow Club urged people to stop sending donations. | How to donate to London fire victims?Donation drop-off points have received a huge number of items. Please check what’s needed before heading to chosen collection points. Donation centres within the Grenfell area are particularly inundated with donations. Harrow Club urged people to stop sending donations. |
| Thankyou for the amazing donations but to reiterate we cannot take anymore from you generous people. We will update should that change ✌ | Thankyou for the amazing donations but to reiterate we cannot take anymore from you generous people. We will update should that change ✌ |
| The Rugby Portobello Trust said it could not accept donations at this time as they need to sort and distribute what they have so far. They also said they do not require volunteers at this time. | The Rugby Portobello Trust said it could not accept donations at this time as they need to sort and distribute what they have so far. They also said they do not require volunteers at this time. |
| An independent website has been set up to share information in relation to Grenfell. The site includes a full list of where you can donate. It also says whether these sites are collecting or not. | An independent website has been set up to share information in relation to Grenfell. The site includes a full list of where you can donate. It also says whether these sites are collecting or not. |
| Where to donate clothes for fire victims? | Where to donate clothes for fire victims? |
| The sites still collecting clothes include the Central Gurdwara (The Big Sikh Temple) and Corpus Christi College JCR on Merton Street, Oxford. However, many other places already have enough clothes and have asked for no more. | The sites still collecting clothes include the Central Gurdwara (The Big Sikh Temple) and Corpus Christi College JCR on Merton Street, Oxford. However, many other places already have enough clothes and have asked for no more. |
| What to donate to the fire victims? | What to donate to the fire victims? |
| Check first, but items that may be helpful include: | Check first, but items that may be helpful include: |
| Nappies | Nappies |
| Baby food and formula | Baby food and formula |
| Hijabs | Hijabs |
| Clothes | Clothes |
| Toothbrushes and toiletries (making up care packs would be great) | Toothbrushes and toiletries (making up care packs would be great) |
| Phone chargers | Phone chargers |
| Hot meals | Hot meals |
| Blankets | Blankets |
| Water | Water |
| Sanitary towels | Sanitary towels |
| Alternatively you can make a cash donation to a new Red Cross appeal. | Alternatively you can make a cash donation to a new Red Cross appeal. |
| How to donate to firefighters? | How to donate to firefighters? |
| Various websites are calling for donations, including this JustGiving one specifically for firefighters. | Various websites are calling for donations, including this JustGiving one specifically for firefighters. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.42am BST | at 11.42am BST |
| 11.10am BST | 11.10am BST |
| 11:10 | 11:10 |
| The Queen arrived with her grandson the Duke of Cambridge at a rest centre helping those affected by the Grenfell Tower fire. | The Queen arrived with her grandson the Duke of Cambridge at a rest centre helping those affected by the Grenfell Tower fire. |
| They are meeting volunteers, local residents and community representatives at the Westway Sports Centre, near the charred remains of the building in west London. | They are meeting volunteers, local residents and community representatives at the Westway Sports Centre, near the charred remains of the building in west London. |
| On Thursday the Queen paid tribute to the “bravery” of firefighters who battled the fire and praised the “incredible generosity” of volunteers offering their support. | On Thursday the Queen paid tribute to the “bravery” of firefighters who battled the fire and praised the “incredible generosity” of volunteers offering their support. |
| Earlier the communities secretary, Sajid Javid, also visited the centre after pledging to meet residents. | Earlier the communities secretary, Sajid Javid, also visited the centre after pledging to meet residents. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.26am BST | at 11.26am BST |
| 11.02am BST | 11.02am BST |
| 11:02 | 11:02 |
| Queen visits the scene | Queen visits the scene |
| The Queen looks set to beat the prime minister in meeting some of the victims. | The Queen looks set to beat the prime minister in meeting some of the victims. |
| She has arrived at the scene and has begun talking to volunteers and members of the emergency services at Westway sports centre. | She has arrived at the scene and has begun talking to volunteers and members of the emergency services at Westway sports centre. |
| The Queen’s visit challenges Downing Street’s line that the prime minister couldn’t meet some of those involved because of security concerns. | The Queen’s visit challenges Downing Street’s line that the prime minister couldn’t meet some of those involved because of security concerns. |
| It has been confirmed that Theresa May will visit some of the victims in hospital later today. | It has been confirmed that Theresa May will visit some of the victims in hospital later today. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.12am BST | at 11.12am BST |
| 10.55am BST | 10.55am BST |
| 10:55 | 10:55 |
| Jamie Grierson | Jamie Grierson |
| Sawsan Choucair is missing six members of her family who all lived on the 22nd floor of Grenfell Tower. | Sawsan Choucair is missing six members of her family who all lived on the 22nd floor of Grenfell Tower. |
| She stood at the tribute wall at Latymer community church, talking to as many reporters as she can. Choucair said she is “devastated” and is desperate for information from the authorities, which she said has been lacking to non-existent. | She stood at the tribute wall at Latymer community church, talking to as many reporters as she can. Choucair said she is “devastated” and is desperate for information from the authorities, which she said has been lacking to non-existent. |
| She is missing her mother Sirria; her sister Nadir; her brother-in-law Bassem; her 14-year-old niece Mirena; her 11-year-old niece Fatima and her three-year-old niece Zienab. | She is missing her mother Sirria; her sister Nadir; her brother-in-law Bassem; her 14-year-old niece Mirena; her 11-year-old niece Fatima and her three-year-old niece Zienab. |
| Choucair lived on a lower floor in the tower but was at a friend’s home when the fire broke out. “I was panicking, shaking when I found out,” she said. | Choucair lived on a lower floor in the tower but was at a friend’s home when the fire broke out. “I was panicking, shaking when I found out,” she said. |
| We don’t have any information. No one is giving us information. We all need people to inform us. We’re just hoping we get information. The only people helping are the media who are interviewing me. I’m not here to blame anyone, my main concern is my family. | We don’t have any information. No one is giving us information. We all need people to inform us. We’re just hoping we get information. The only people helping are the media who are interviewing me. I’m not here to blame anyone, my main concern is my family. |
| Choucair said despite facing the worst possible scenario, “I still have some hope”. Posters of her missing loved ones have been plastered on the church and at other key venues around the cordon. | Choucair said despite facing the worst possible scenario, “I still have some hope”. Posters of her missing loved ones have been plastered on the church and at other key venues around the cordon. |
| This is Sawsan Choucair. Her mum, sister, brother in law and three nieces are missing. They all lived on 22nd floor. pic.twitter.com/ZLmNvhW4DP | This is Sawsan Choucair. Her mum, sister, brother in law and three nieces are missing. They all lived on 22nd floor. pic.twitter.com/ZLmNvhW4DP |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.01am BST | at 11.01am BST |