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London fire: Protests grow as fire anger increases | London fire: Protests grow as fire anger increases |
(35 minutes later) | |
Protests are being held in London as residents demand support for those affected by the Grenfell Tower fire. | Protests are being held in London as residents demand support for those affected by the Grenfell Tower fire. |
Between 50 and 60 people stormed Kensington and Chelsea Town Hall as members of the public said the homeless needed help "right now". | Between 50 and 60 people stormed Kensington and Chelsea Town Hall as members of the public said the homeless needed help "right now". |
Crowds gathered outside a hall where PM Theresa May met survivors and protests have also been held at Downing Street. | Crowds gathered outside a hall where PM Theresa May met survivors and protests have also been held at Downing Street. |
Mrs May has sanctioned £5m for clothes, food and emergency supplies while the death toll has risen to at least 30. | Mrs May has sanctioned £5m for clothes, food and emergency supplies while the death toll has risen to at least 30. |
The BBC understands those missing could number about 70, with the 30 likely to be among that number. Three of those who died have been identified. | The BBC understands those missing could number about 70, with the 30 likely to be among that number. Three of those who died have been identified. |
There was nothing to suggest the fire was started deliberately, police said. | There was nothing to suggest the fire was started deliberately, police said. |
Third day of grim search | Third day of grim search |
The fire broke out shortly before 01:00 BST on Wednesday. | The fire broke out shortly before 01:00 BST on Wednesday. |
It tore through all floors of the building and took more than 200 firefighters 24 hours to bring it under control. | It tore through all floors of the building and took more than 200 firefighters 24 hours to bring it under control. |
Mahad Egal, who escaped his fourth floor flat with his family, said: "At first it seemed it was controllable, but really quickly the fire started to rise as the cladding caught fire. It is incredible we survived." | Mahad Egal, who escaped his fourth floor flat with his family, said: "At first it seemed it was controllable, but really quickly the fire started to rise as the cladding caught fire. It is incredible we survived." |
Emergency services are now spending a third day searching for bodies in the burnt-out Grenfell Tower in North Kensington. | Emergency services are now spending a third day searching for bodies in the burnt-out Grenfell Tower in North Kensington. |
The first protest began at around 15:00 BST at the town hall and scores have since joined it. | The first protest began at around 15:00 BST at the town hall and scores have since joined it. |
At around 16:30 BST, people began to rush up the steps and make their way into the building. | At around 16:30 BST, people began to rush up the steps and make their way into the building. |
One member of the public said: "Nobody knows what is happening. People are so angry. Those people shouldn't be sleeping in the street". | One member of the public said: "Nobody knows what is happening. People are so angry. Those people shouldn't be sleeping in the street". |
Mustafa Al Mansur, who organised the protest, read a statement from the council which promised to rehouse as many people locally as they could and to provide funding for those affected. | Mustafa Al Mansur, who organised the protest, read a statement from the council which promised to rehouse as many people locally as they could and to provide funding for those affected. |
But he called the response "flimsy" with "no concrete answers" - especially on the question of number of residents who lived in the flats. | But he called the response "flimsy" with "no concrete answers" - especially on the question of number of residents who lived in the flats. |
"The people were not satisfied with the answers," he told BBC News. "The people were getting frustrated and they walked towards the building. They did not force themselves inside. They got inside the main building and were in the foyer, just speaking." | "The people were not satisfied with the answers," he told BBC News. "The people were getting frustrated and they walked towards the building. They did not force themselves inside. They got inside the main building and were in the foyer, just speaking." |
Police then arrived on the scene and formed a barricade, which Mr Al Mansur said led to "physical confrontation" between the two sides. | Police then arrived on the scene and formed a barricade, which Mr Al Mansur said led to "physical confrontation" between the two sides. |
There were then angry scenes outside the Clement James Centre, in North Kensington, where the meeting with the prime minister and residents of the tower had been held. | There were then angry scenes outside the Clement James Centre, in North Kensington, where the meeting with the prime minister and residents of the tower had been held. |
The Press Association reported one woman was crying at the scene saying it was because the prime minister had declined to speak to anyone outside. | The Press Association reported one woman was crying at the scene saying it was because the prime minister had declined to speak to anyone outside. |
Dozens of demonstrators surged towards the entrance and there were scuffles outside as organisers appealed for calm. | Dozens of demonstrators surged towards the entrance and there were scuffles outside as organisers appealed for calm. |
Mrs May had faced criticism for not meeting with survivors in the immediate aftermath, unlike Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. | Mrs May had faced criticism for not meeting with survivors in the immediate aftermath, unlike Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. |
Asked about the reaction of the crowd, Mrs May defended the government's response. | Asked about the reaction of the crowd, Mrs May defended the government's response. |
"What I am now absolutely focused on is ensuring we get that support on the ground," she said. | "What I am now absolutely focused on is ensuring we get that support on the ground," she said. |
"The government is making money available, we are ensuring we are going to get to the bottom of what has happened, we will ensure that people are rehoused. We need to make sure that actually happens." | "The government is making money available, we are ensuring we are going to get to the bottom of what has happened, we will ensure that people are rehoused. We need to make sure that actually happens." |
Large crowds of people also gathered in Westminster and made their way to Downing Street. | Large crowds of people also gathered in Westminster and made their way to Downing Street. |
The crowd was heard chanting, "Justice for Grenfell", along with anti-government slogans, including "May must go" and "blood on your hands". | The crowd was heard chanting, "Justice for Grenfell", along with anti-government slogans, including "May must go" and "blood on your hands". |
A peaceful march started making its way down Whitehall, was halted by police outside Downing Street, before moving to Oxford Circus, where demonstrators carried out a sit-down protest. | |
The march continued up Regent Street, where they held a minute's silence outside the BBC's headquarters, and continued towards Marble Arch and Notting Hill. | |
The £5m Grenfell Tower Residents' Discretionary Fund, announced by Mrs May, includes the aim to rehouse residents within three weeks as close to where they lived before as possible, to pay for temporary housing in the meantime and to provide extra financial assistance. | The £5m Grenfell Tower Residents' Discretionary Fund, announced by Mrs May, includes the aim to rehouse residents within three weeks as close to where they lived before as possible, to pay for temporary housing in the meantime and to provide extra financial assistance. |
During her meeting with survivors, the PM also said they would be consulted on the terms of the public inquiry announced on Thursday and receive state funding for legal representation. | During her meeting with survivors, the PM also said they would be consulted on the terms of the public inquiry announced on Thursday and receive state funding for legal representation. |
Mrs May said: "Everyone affected by this tragedy needs reassurance that the government is there for them at this terrible time - and that is what I am determined to provide." | Mrs May said: "Everyone affected by this tragedy needs reassurance that the government is there for them at this terrible time - and that is what I am determined to provide." |
Royal visit | Royal visit |
The Queen and Duke of Cambridge also met volunteers, residents and community representatives during a visit to the Westway Sports Centre. | The Queen and Duke of Cambridge also met volunteers, residents and community representatives during a visit to the Westway Sports Centre. |
The Queen paid tribute to the "bravery" of firefighters and the "incredible generosity" of volunteers now offering support. | The Queen paid tribute to the "bravery" of firefighters and the "incredible generosity" of volunteers now offering support. |
So far in the investigation: | So far in the investigation: |
First victims named | First victims named |
On Thursday, the first victim of the fire was named as Syrian refugee Mohammed Alhajali, 23. | On Thursday, the first victim of the fire was named as Syrian refugee Mohammed Alhajali, 23. |
The Syria Solidarity Campaign said Mr Alhajali, a civil engineering student, had been in a flat on the 14th floor when the fire broke out, and had spent two hours on the phone to a friend in Syria. | The Syria Solidarity Campaign said Mr Alhajali, a civil engineering student, had been in a flat on the 14th floor when the fire broke out, and had spent two hours on the phone to a friend in Syria. |
He had been trying to get through to his family while he was waiting to be rescued. | He had been trying to get through to his family while he was waiting to be rescued. |
His older brother, Omar, told the BBC he had lost Mohammed on the way out of the building. | His older brother, Omar, told the BBC he had lost Mohammed on the way out of the building. |
Two other victims have also been named. | Two other victims have also been named. |
Five-year-old Isaac Shawo reportedly got separated from his family in the smoke and later died. | Five-year-old Isaac Shawo reportedly got separated from his family in the smoke and later died. |
Artist and photographer Khadija Saye, 24, lived on the 20th floor and also died. | Artist and photographer Khadija Saye, 24, lived on the 20th floor and also died. |
Stories of how people managed to escape have also emerged. | Stories of how people managed to escape have also emerged. |
Christos Fairbairn, 41, a resident who lived on the 15th floor, described how he collapsed while fleeing the building, only to be rescued by a firefighter. | Christos Fairbairn, 41, a resident who lived on the 15th floor, described how he collapsed while fleeing the building, only to be rescued by a firefighter. |
"I can't believe I am alive," he said. "I will never forget what happened and how traumatising it was. I know I will never live in a tower block again." | "I can't believe I am alive," he said. "I will never forget what happened and how traumatising it was. I know I will never live in a tower block again." |
Meanwhile, it has emerged that Elpidio Bonifacio, a partially blind man in his 70s, was rescued from his 11th-floor flat after having been seen at the window waving a jumper. | Meanwhile, it has emerged that Elpidio Bonifacio, a partially blind man in his 70s, was rescued from his 11th-floor flat after having been seen at the window waving a jumper. |
His son Gordon, 41, said on Facebook that his father was now in intensive care. | His son Gordon, 41, said on Facebook that his father was now in intensive care. |
The leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council told BBC Two's Newsnight it would not use the type of cladding fitted to Grenfell Tower on other buildings in the borough. | The leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council told BBC Two's Newsnight it would not use the type of cladding fitted to Grenfell Tower on other buildings in the borough. |
The cladding - installed on the tower in a recent renovation - has come under scrutiny, with experts saying a more fire resistant type could have been used. | The cladding - installed on the tower in a recent renovation - has come under scrutiny, with experts saying a more fire resistant type could have been used. |
Rydon, the company that carried out the £8.6m refurbishment of the tower, welcomed the public inquiry, but said it had met all building and fire regulations, plus health and safety standards. | Rydon, the company that carried out the £8.6m refurbishment of the tower, welcomed the public inquiry, but said it had met all building and fire regulations, plus health and safety standards. |
Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning | Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning |