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Met commander hopes Grenfell Tower death toll does not hit triple figures Met commander hopes Grenfell Tower death toll will not hit triple figures
(35 minutes later)
The search for dozens of people missing since the Grenfell Tower inferno continues into its third day as a police commander expressed hope the death toll would not hit triple figures.The search for dozens of people missing since the Grenfell Tower inferno continues into its third day as a police commander expressed hope the death toll would not hit triple figures.
Approximately 60 people are reportedly unaccounted for since the blaze, which police fear was so devastating that some victims may never be identified. Six bodies have so far been recovered from the gutted 24-storey tower, while 11 have been located inside, but cannot yet be removed, bringing the confirmed death toll to 17. About 60 people are reportedly unaccounted for since the blaze, which police fear was so devastating that some victims may never be identified. Six bodies have been recovered from the gutted 24-storey tower so far and 11 have been located inside but cannot yet be removed, bringing the confirmed death toll to 17.
The official figure has sparked anger and confusion within the local community, where people believe the true number of fatalities is considerably higher. Emergency services have been restricted in finding and identifying victims by the severity of damage caused by the blaze. The official figure has sparked anger and confusion within the local community, where people believe the true number of fatalities is considerably higher. The severity of the damaged caused by the blaze has restricted the emergency services’ efforts to find and identify victims.
A growing number of families are now desperately appealing for news about missing loved ones after the Grenfell Tower fire. The streets around the high rise block in north Kensington were plastered with posters begging for information about those who were in the building. A growing number of families are now desperately appealing for news about missing loved ones, and the streets around the high-rise block in north Kensington are plastered with posters begging for information about those who were in the building.
More appeals were put up overnight on Thursday as relatives became increasingly distraught about their loved ones. One area near the police cordon around the tower featured around 15 posters pleading for information about missing loved ones. More appeals were put up overnight on Thursday as relatives became increasingly distraught. One area near the police cordon around the tower features about 15 posters pleading for information.
One appeal read: “Since a deadly fire broke out in their home in Latimer, no one has heard from 16 year old Nurhuda El-Wahabi, 21 year old Yasmin El-Wahabi and their family. They live on the 21st floor. Please spread this round and keep a look out for their family.” One read: “Since a deadly fire broke out in their home in Latimer, no one has heard from 16-year-old Nurhuda El-Wahabi, 21-year-old Yasmin El-Wahabi and their family. They live on the 21st floor. Please spread this round and keep a look out for their family.”
Another asked for information about “Amal and daughter” with a photo of a young woman with curly dark hair and a little girl. A whole family were reported missing on one poster, which said: “The Choucair family is missing in the Grenfell Tower fire. They lived on the 22nd floor.” Another asked for information about “Amal and daughter” with a photo of a young woman with curly dark hair and a little girl. A whole family was reported missing on one poster, which said: “The Choucair family is missing in the Grenfell Tower fire. They lived on the 22nd floor.”
The family was named as mother Nadia Choucair and daughters Mierna, 13, Fatima, 11, and Zeinab, three. The family was named as mother, Nadia Choucair, and daughters Mierna, 13, Fatima, 11, and Zeinab, three.
“Fathia Alsanonse MISSING. People still can’t get through to her. Please keep an eye out,” another said, next to a picture of a smiling woman.“Fathia Alsanonse MISSING. People still can’t get through to her. Please keep an eye out,” another said, next to a picture of a smiling woman.
One simply said: “Missing: Marjorie Vital” with a picture of a woman in a white hat. There are fears that the death toll could dramatically rise as firefighters continue to search the building. One simply said: “Missing: Marjorie Vital” with a picture of a woman in a white hat. There are fears that the death toll could rise dramatically as firefighters continue to search the building.
Smoke could be seen billowing from the charred remains on Thursday and pockets of flames were still burning on Friday morning.Smoke could be seen billowing from the charred remains on Thursday and pockets of flames were still burning on Friday morning.
ENDS NEW Police launched a criminal inquiry into the fire 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 also launched a criminal inquiry into the fire 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. Restaurants, care homes, hospitals and concert halls are all prohibited from using the material.
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. Restaurants, care homes, hospitals and concert halls are all prohibited from using the material in the US. Experts have also said sprinklers could have been fitted in the tower for £200,000, but Nick Paget-Brown, the Tory leader of Kensington and Chelsea council, said there was not a “collective view” among residents in favour of installing them.
Meanwhile, experts have said sprinklers could have been fitted in the tower for £200,000, but Nick Paget-Brown, the Tory leader of Kensington and Chelsea council, said there was not a “collective view” among residents in favour of installing them. One of the first victims was named as 23-year-old Syrian refugee Mohammed Alhajali, and the Syria Solidarity campaign director, Kareen El Beyrouty, has launched a campaign to raise money for his funeral.
One of the first victims was named as 23-year-old Syrian refugee Mohammed Alhajali, with the Syria Solidarity campaign director, Kareen El Beyrouty, launching a campaign towards funeral costs.
The appeal said: “Mohammed Alhajali undertook a dangerous journey to flee war in Syria, only to meet death here in the UK, in his own home. His dream was to be able to go back home one day and rebuild Syria.”The appeal said: “Mohammed Alhajali undertook a dangerous journey to flee war in Syria, only to meet death here in the UK, in his own home. His dream was to be able to go back home one day and rebuild Syria.”
A further 30 people remain in hospital, 15 of whom are critically ill. Thirty people remain in hospital, 15 of whom are critically ill.
The Metropolitan police commander Stuart Cundy responded to speculation that the number of dead could exceed 100, saying: “From a personal perspective, I really hope it isn’t. The Metropolitan police commander Stuart Cundy responded to speculation that the number of dead could exceed 100 by saying: “From a personal perspective, I really hope it isn’t.
“For those of us that have been down there, it’s pretty emotional, so I hope it is not triple figures, but I can’t be drawn on the numbers,” he added, his voice cracking. “For those of us that have been down there it’s pretty emotional, so I hope it is not triple figures, but I can’t be drawn on the numbers,” he said, his voice cracking.
His words came as:His words came as:
London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, was heckled by an angry crowd as he passed through the west London neighbourhood, with some demanding to know how he planned to handle the crisis.London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, was heckled by an angry crowd as he passed through the west London neighbourhood, with some demanding to know how he planned to handle the crisis.
Widespread appeals continue for those lost since the fire, including children such as 12-year-old Jessica Urbano, and whole families, including Rania Ibrahim and her two daughters Fathia, five, and Hania, three.
Council chiefs pledged to carry out extra fire safety checks at some high-rise tower blocks across London amid concerns more buildings could be at risk.Council chiefs pledged to carry out extra fire safety checks at some high-rise tower blocks across London amid concerns more buildings could be at risk.
The Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who met displaced families, suggested luxury properties lying empty in Kensington should be taken over by the government and used to house the Grenfell Tower residents. The Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who met displaced families, suggested the government should take over luxury properties lying empty in Kensington and use them to house the Grenfell Tower residents.
The prime minister Theresa May came under fire for opting not to meet with displaced families at community centres on a visit to the scene on Thursday. The prime minister, Theresa May, came under fire for opting not to meet displaced families at community centres on a visit to the scene on Thursday.
An emergency government funding scheme was launched to help meet the costs of the disaster as individual charity donations rocketed.An emergency government funding scheme was launched to help meet the costs of the disaster as individual charity donations rocketed.
A rally was organised to be held on Friday evening in Westminster calling for justice for those caught up in the fire.A rally was organised to be held on Friday evening in Westminster calling for justice for those caught up in the fire.
On Friday morning, emergency services were gearing up for a third day of picking through the tower’s charred remains in search of bodies. Teams were forced to leave the building on Thursday afternoon when the fire restarted, delaying further the efforts to reach upper floors, where some victims are thought to have been trapped. Emergency services were gearing up for a third day picking through the charred shell of the tower in search of bodies. Teams were forced to leave the building on Thursday afternoon when the fire restarted, delaying efforts to reach upper floors where some victims are thought to have been trapped.
Cundy said: “It may be – and I just don’t know – it may be that ultimately some victims remain unidentified. I won’t know that until we’ve gone through the full recovery from Grenfell Tower and we know exactly what we’ve got and I anticipate that is going to take a considerable period of time. Cundy said: “It may be, and I just don’t know, it may be that ultimately some victims remain unidentified. I won’t know that until we’ve gone through the full recovery from Grenfell Tower and we know exactly what we’ve got, and I anticipate that is going to take a considerable period of time.
“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.”
May ordered a full public inquiry into the disaster in response to mounting anger that the fire might have been preventable. On Thursday, police also confirmed they had launched a criminal investigation into the matter. May ordered a full public inquiry into the disaster in response to mounting anger that the fire might have been preventable. Scotland Yard also confirmed on Thursday that it had launched a criminal investigation.
It followed calls for those involved in the building’s recent renovation – which many claim posed a major safety risk – to face prosecution. It followed calls for those involved in the building’s recent renovation, which many claim posed a major safety risk, to face prosecution.
“We as the police have started an investigation, I mentioned when I was down at the scene this morning that one of our very senior investigating officers is leading that for us,” the commander said. “We as the police, we investigate criminal offences – I am not sitting here and saying there are criminal offences that have been committed, that’s why you do an investigation, to establish it.” “We as the police have started an investigation. I mentioned when I was down at the scene this morning that one of our very senior investigating officers is leading that for us,” the commander said. “We as the police, we investigate criminal offences. I am not sitting here and saying there are criminal offences that have been committed, that’s why you do an investigation, to establish it.”
The police’s casualty bureau was said to have received 5,000 calls during the chaotic first day of the investigation. About 400 people were reported missing, but Cundy downplayed the figure, saying it added up to more people than actually lived in the block. One person was reported missing 46 times, he added.The police’s casualty bureau was said to have received 5,000 calls during the chaotic first day of the investigation. About 400 people were reported missing, but Cundy downplayed the figure, saying it added up to more people than actually lived in the block. One person was reported missing 46 times, he added.
More than £31m has been raised to help those affected by the fire, with more than 60 tonnes of donations collected by one local mosque. Many of the refugees told the public they did not require any more donations after hundreds of people dropped off supplies. More than £31m has been raised to help those affected by the fire, and one local mosque has collected more than 60 tonnes of donations. Many of those affected told the public they did not require any more donations after hundreds of people dropped off supplies.
Police urged anyone still concerned about a missing loved one to visit the reception area at the Westway sports centre, west London, or ring the casualty bureau on 0800 0961 233.Police urged anyone still concerned about a missing loved one to visit the reception area at the Westway sports centre, west London, or ring the casualty bureau on 0800 0961 233.
Those who reported a friend or relative as missing but have since been reunited with them were also asked to get in touch with police.Those who reported a friend or relative as missing but have since been reunited with them were also asked to get in touch with police.