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London fire: First victim named as Mohammed Alhajali | London fire: First victim named as Mohammed Alhajali |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The first victim of the fire at Grenfell Tower in London has been named by a charity as a Syrian refugee. | The first victim of the fire at Grenfell Tower in London has been named by a charity as a Syrian refugee. |
Mohammed Alhajali, who was reported to be 23, came to the UK in 2014 and was studying civil engineering while living in North Kensington. | |
Syria Solidarity Campaign said: "[He] undertook a dangerous journey to flee war and death in Syria, only to meet it here in the UK, in his own home." | Syria Solidarity Campaign said: "[He] undertook a dangerous journey to flee war and death in Syria, only to meet it here in the UK, in his own home." |
At least 17 people died in the fire which started early on Wednesday. | At least 17 people died in the fire which started early on Wednesday. |
The charity said he had been in a flat on the 14th floor with his brother, Omar, and the pair had tried to escape, but lost each other on the way downstairs. | The charity said he had been in a flat on the 14th floor with his brother, Omar, and the pair had tried to escape, but lost each other on the way downstairs. |
Omar was rescued by firefighters, but Mohammed returned to his flat and tried to call family members back in Syria. | Omar was rescued by firefighters, but Mohammed returned to his flat and tried to call family members back in Syria. |
"Mohammed was on the phone for two hours with a friend in Syria, waiting to be rescued," said a statement from the charity. | "Mohammed was on the phone for two hours with a friend in Syria, waiting to be rescued," said a statement from the charity. |
"He was trying to reach his family... but he could not get connected to them due to the situation in Syria. He had not seen his family for four years. | "He was trying to reach his family... but he could not get connected to them due to the situation in Syria. He had not seen his family for four years. |
"When the fire reached his flat... Mohammed bid his friend goodbye. He asked his friend to pass on the message to his family." | "When the fire reached his flat... Mohammed bid his friend goodbye. He asked his friend to pass on the message to his family." |
Both Mohammed and Omar had been due to join the charity with another brother on Saturday as part of The Great Get Together - celebrating the life of murdered MP Jo Cox - and Refugee Week. | Both Mohammed and Omar had been due to join the charity with another brother on Saturday as part of The Great Get Together - celebrating the life of murdered MP Jo Cox - and Refugee Week. |
Now the event will be used to pay tribute to Mohammed and the others who lost their lives in the fire. | Now the event will be used to pay tribute to Mohammed and the others who lost their lives in the fire. |
The charity called for a "thorough investigation" into building regulations, adding: "Mohammed came to this country for safety and the UK failed to protect him." | The charity called for a "thorough investigation" into building regulations, adding: "Mohammed came to this country for safety and the UK failed to protect him." |
Mohammed's family told the BBC that Omar was being treated in King's College Hospital and was improving. | Mohammed's family told the BBC that Omar was being treated in King's College Hospital and was improving. |
They are trying to get UK visas for their parents so they can come from Damascus to see Mohammed's body. | They are trying to get UK visas for their parents so they can come from Damascus to see Mohammed's body. |
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