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| Grenfell fire: Police say 255 people survived the blaze | Grenfell fire: Police say 255 people survived the blaze |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Metropolitan Police believe there were about 255 survivors from last month's fire at Grenfell Tower. | The Metropolitan Police believe there were about 255 survivors from last month's fire at Grenfell Tower. |
| Police say "extensive investigations" led them to conclude 350 people should have been in the Kensington tower block on the night of the blaze on 14 June. | Police say "extensive investigations" led them to conclude 350 people should have been in the Kensington tower block on the night of the blaze on 14 June. |
| That night, 14 residents were not in the building, leaving at least 80 people dead or missing, the Met said. | That night, 14 residents were not in the building, leaving at least 80 people dead or missing, the Met said. |
| Detective Chief Inspector Andy Chalmers, leading the Met's operation, described the task as "unprecedented". | Detective Chief Inspector Andy Chalmers, leading the Met's operation, described the task as "unprecedented". |
| In the update to its operation, which includes a criminal investigation into why the fire began, police said the coroner had formally identified 32 bodies. | |
| "You can't listen to the families and to the 999 calls and not want to hold people to account for a fire that should not have happened," said Metropolitan Police Commander Stuart Cundy. | "You can't listen to the families and to the 999 calls and not want to hold people to account for a fire that should not have happened," said Metropolitan Police Commander Stuart Cundy. |
| Cover-up claims | Cover-up claims |
| Speaking after the briefing, Cdr Cundy denied claims from former residents and politicians that the number killed in the tragedy could be far higher than 80. | |
| "We've been working tirelessly to ascertain how many people died in the fire," he said, describing the night as one where "the lives of so many changed forever". | "We've been working tirelessly to ascertain how many people died in the fire," he said, describing the night as one where "the lives of so many changed forever". |
| Labour MP David Lammy told BBC's Newsnight in June that he was "sympathetic" to the view that the number of dead was being covered up. | Labour MP David Lammy told BBC's Newsnight in June that he was "sympathetic" to the view that the number of dead was being covered up. |
| Scotland Yard believes around 10 people managed to escape the tower "but for a number of different reasons" were not willing to come forward. | Scotland Yard believes around 10 people managed to escape the tower "but for a number of different reasons" were not willing to come forward. |
| The government has promised not to conduct immigration checks on survivors and those coming forward with information in a bid to aid the investigation. | |
| It has also said tenants illegally subletting flats in the tower would not face charges. | |
| Cdr Cundy said the Met's investigations would "not be hampered in any way" by a separate judge-led public inquiry into the blaze. | Cdr Cundy said the Met's investigations would "not be hampered in any way" by a separate judge-led public inquiry into the blaze. |
| "We are absolutely determined to do everything new can to identify what offences have been committed," he said. | "We are absolutely determined to do everything new can to identify what offences have been committed," he said. |
| "We will seize information for wherever it comes from." | "We will seize information for wherever it comes from." |
| Detectives said they were looking at "every aspect of fire safety" at Grenfell - including fire doors, exit routes and emergency procedures. | Detectives said they were looking at "every aspect of fire safety" at Grenfell - including fire doors, exit routes and emergency procedures. |
| So far, 140 witnesses have been spoken to, with plans to interview the 650 firefighters and 300 police officers involved in the rescue operation, and all residents. | So far, 140 witnesses have been spoken to, with plans to interview the 650 firefighters and 300 police officers involved in the rescue operation, and all residents. |
| The retired judge leading the public inquiry, Sir Martin Moore-Bick, said it would seek to discover the truth about what happened at Grenfell Tower, "so that we can learn lessons for the future". | The retired judge leading the public inquiry, Sir Martin Moore-Bick, said it would seek to discover the truth about what happened at Grenfell Tower, "so that we can learn lessons for the future". |
| Sir Martin recently held a meeting with residents also attended by the Met. The first public hearings are expected to be held in September. | Sir Martin recently held a meeting with residents also attended by the Met. The first public hearings are expected to be held in September. |
| Accounting for the dead | |
| By Tom Symonds, BBC home affairs correspondent: | |
| Since the fire, the claim that 150 or more people lost their lives has persisted. | |
| After all, there is no official register of those living in the tower and a list provided by Kensington and Chelsea Council has proved to be inaccurate. | |
| As a result, it was crucial that police worked out how many people should have been in the tower that night. | |
| Their estimate of 350 is far fewer than the 500 to 600 people claimed by some. And 14 people, police say, were out for the night. | |
| Police also say that many of the flats were not family-sized, but one or two-bed properties, which may explain the belief that more people were living there. | |
| It has also been said that sub-letting may have resulted in the tower having a "hidden" population. Police have identified 10 people who didn't want to come forward to confirm they had survived. | |
| The police have repeatedly explained their methodology, which has not been challenged. | |
| Unless major flaws are found in the way detectives have attempted to get the truth, its likely the final number of dead at Grenfell Tower will be around 80. | |
| Cdr Cundy said the Grenfell investigation was "probably one of the biggest investigations the Metropolitan Police has conducted outside of a terror attack". | Cdr Cundy said the Grenfell investigation was "probably one of the biggest investigations the Metropolitan Police has conducted outside of a terror attack". |
| There are 250 specialist investigators working on the Met's operation, including the process of identifying those who died, and finding out how the fire started. | There are 250 specialist investigators working on the Met's operation, including the process of identifying those who died, and finding out how the fire started. |
| Scotland Yard said forensic pathologists were sieving through debris in the building to look for human remains. | Scotland Yard said forensic pathologists were sieving through debris in the building to look for human remains. |
| "Phase one" of the operation - removing identifiable bodies - has now been completed. | "Phase one" of the operation - removing identifiable bodies - has now been completed. |
| All remains have been scanned for objects which may be used to identify victims, such as surgical implants, personal jewellery, glasses and teeth. | All remains have been scanned for objects which may be used to identify victims, such as surgical implants, personal jewellery, glasses and teeth. |
| Cdr Cundy said officers involved "can't help but have an emotional attachment to this case". | Cdr Cundy said officers involved "can't help but have an emotional attachment to this case". |
| The police investigation into the causes of the fire is also continuing, including an examination of "all criminal offences that may have been committed". | The police investigation into the causes of the fire is also continuing, including an examination of "all criminal offences that may have been committed". |
| Who were the victims? | Who were the victims? |