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| 'We want justice': Grenfell Tower protest spills into town hall | 'We want justice': Grenfell Tower protest spills into town hall |
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| People protesting over the Grenfell Tower disaster have entered Kensington town hall, chanting: “We want justice.” | People protesting over the Grenfell Tower disaster have entered Kensington town hall, chanting: “We want justice.” |
| Dozens of people ran up the stairs of the town hall foyer, where they scuffled with police officers who tried to block their path. | Dozens of people ran up the stairs of the town hall foyer, where they scuffled with police officers who tried to block their path. |
| One demonstrator, who gave her name as Leila, captured the mood with her placard, which said, simply: “I’m livid.” She said: “I’ve come out here because people had no hope. They lost hope with 999, they started WhatsApping their friends and families to say goodbye. | One demonstrator, who gave her name as Leila, captured the mood with her placard, which said, simply: “I’m livid.” She said: “I’ve come out here because people had no hope. They lost hope with 999, they started WhatsApping their friends and families to say goodbye. |
| “People were telling them to stay in the building, but they had hope because they listened. Use your initiative, don’t trust them, that’s what I’m saying. There are no words. I’m angry, I have children. The screams, the faces, the trauma. Can you imagine children at the windows screaming for their mummies and daddies?” | “People were telling them to stay in the building, but they had hope because they listened. Use your initiative, don’t trust them, that’s what I’m saying. There are no words. I’m angry, I have children. The screams, the faces, the trauma. Can you imagine children at the windows screaming for their mummies and daddies?” |
| Earlier desperate people with missing loved ones pleaded for help from the authorities and lashed out at the government’s response to the devastating blaze. | Earlier desperate people with missing loved ones pleaded for help from the authorities and lashed out at the government’s response to the devastating blaze. |
| Theresa May was criticised for avoiding meeting the building’s residents on the streets of North Kensington for another day, instead visiting victims at a London hospital. May had cited security concerns, but they did not prevent the Queen and Prince William from attending the Westway sports centre on Friday, a makeshift relief facility for the displaced and bereaved. | Theresa May was criticised for avoiding meeting the building’s residents on the streets of North Kensington for another day, instead visiting victims at a London hospital. May had cited security concerns, but they did not prevent the Queen and Prince William from attending the Westway sports centre on Friday, a makeshift relief facility for the displaced and bereaved. |
| While the monarch and her grandson were warmly received, they were not totally isolated from the anger in the neighbourhood, as the distraught friend of a missing family beckoned them to hear his story, prompting the prince to apologise and promise that he would come back. | While the monarch and her grandson were warmly received, they were not totally isolated from the anger in the neighbourhood, as the distraught friend of a missing family beckoned them to hear his story, prompting the prince to apologise and promise that he would come back. |
| Simmering resentment towards the government was further fuelled as the Kensington and Chelsea council confused residents with its rehousing plan for displaced tenants. It said not all tenants would be given new homes in North Kensington but later appeared to row back, claiming its understanding of the scenario had changed. | Simmering resentment towards the government was further fuelled as the Kensington and Chelsea council confused residents with its rehousing plan for displaced tenants. It said not all tenants would be given new homes in North Kensington but later appeared to row back, claiming its understanding of the scenario had changed. |
| Demonstrators gathered outside Kensington town hall in the afternoon and some gained entry to the building. Protest organisers were encouraging the crowd to remain in place until the council leaders pledged an independent investigation and rehousing for all those affected. | Demonstrators gathered outside Kensington town hall in the afternoon and some gained entry to the building. Protest organisers were encouraging the crowd to remain in place until the council leaders pledged an independent investigation and rehousing for all those affected. |
| Carolyne Hill, 39, from Brixton, said she came to the Kensington protest to “make a stand for my fellow Londoners”. She said: “I believe that the council is supposed to protect its people. This council committed basic gross negligence in providing basic human rights in their fire safety. People died in their homes. | Carolyne Hill, 39, from Brixton, said she came to the Kensington protest to “make a stand for my fellow Londoners”. She said: “I believe that the council is supposed to protect its people. This council committed basic gross negligence in providing basic human rights in their fire safety. People died in their homes. |
| “The council is following legislation made by the government, the government has made cuts in every single borough. This is the result of our government, our councils not caring about their people. They’ve put profit over people now for far too long. This is the result.” | “The council is following legislation made by the government, the government has made cuts in every single borough. This is the result of our government, our councils not caring about their people. They’ve put profit over people now for far too long. This is the result.” |
| Alongside the anger in the borough, there was also kindness, as scores of volunteers worked tirelessly on the relief effort. | Alongside the anger in the borough, there was also kindness, as scores of volunteers worked tirelessly on the relief effort. |
| Among the distraught relatives outside Grenfell Tower was Sawsan Choucair, missing six members of her family who all lived on the 22nd floor. Standing at a tribute wall at Latymer community church, talking to as many reporters as she could, Choucair said she was “devastated” and was desperate for information from the authorities, which she says has been lacking. | Among the distraught relatives outside Grenfell Tower was Sawsan Choucair, missing six members of her family who all lived on the 22nd floor. Standing at a tribute wall at Latymer community church, talking to as many reporters as she could, Choucair said she was “devastated” and was desperate for information from the authorities, which she says has been lacking. |
| She was 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 Zeinab. Choucair also lived in the tower on a lower floor but was at a friend’s home when the fire broke out. | She was 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 Zeinab. Choucair also lived in the tower on a lower floor 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.” | “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.” |
| Choucair appeared composed despite the circumstances. “I still have some hope,” she said. Posters of her missing loved ones were among dozens being plastered on the church and other key venues around the cordon, from the Notting Hill Methodist church to the Pig and Whistle pub and the bus stops and phone boxes in between. | Choucair appeared composed despite the circumstances. “I still have some hope,” she said. Posters of her missing loved ones were among dozens being plastered on the church and other key venues around the cordon, from the Notting Hill Methodist church to the Pig and Whistle pub and the bus stops and phone boxes in between. |
| Less than a quarter of a mile from the church, there were emotionally charged scenes as the Queen and Duke of Cambridge visited the Westway sports centre. Standing beneath the rumbling Westway flyover, the royals had finished meeting firefighters and police officers who responded to the inferno, when they were met with a spontaneous round of applause from onlookers. | Less than a quarter of a mile from the church, there were emotionally charged scenes as the Queen and Duke of Cambridge visited the Westway sports centre. Standing beneath the rumbling Westway flyover, the royals had finished meeting firefighters and police officers who responded to the inferno, when they were met with a spontaneous round of applause from onlookers. |
| But when the clapping died down, a distraught man beckoned them to come over. “Please come here,” he implored. Clutching a missing appeal poster for siblings Firdaws and Yahya, Rami Mohamed said he was a friend of the missing children’s family. | But when the clapping died down, a distraught man beckoned them to come over. “Please come here,” he implored. 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 car as the prince apologised and pledged to return to the Westway centre, which is operating as a relief centre for displaced evacuees and relatives of the missing. | The Queen climbed into her car as the prince apologised and pledged to return to the Westway centre, which is operating as a relief centre for displaced evacuees and relatives of the missing. |
| When the royals departed, Mohamed said he was frustrated that so many people arrived for the monarch but it 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 May declined to visit the area over the security concerns. | When the royals departed, Mohamed said he was frustrated that so many people arrived for the monarch but it 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 May declined to visit the area over the security concerns. |
| Earlier on Friday, residents heckled Andrea Leadsom, the leader of the House of Commons and a former challenger for the Tory leadership, when she arrived in the area. Leadsom said: “I have come down here as leader of the House of Commons. I have had some discussions with residents today. It is devastating absolutely devastating and I do sense the anger, and I am completely sympathetic. I utterly understand it.” | Earlier on Friday, residents heckled Andrea Leadsom, the leader of the House of Commons and a former challenger for the Tory leadership, when she arrived in the area. Leadsom said: “I have come down here as leader of the House of Commons. I have had some discussions with residents today. It is devastating absolutely devastating and I do sense the anger, and I am completely sympathetic. I utterly understand it.” |
| As the confirmed death toll rose to 30, there were reportedly as many as 70 people unaccounted for since the blaze, which police fear was so devastating that some victims may never be identified. The official number of deaths has sparked anger and confusion within the local community, where people believe the true number is considerably higher. | As the confirmed death toll rose to 30, there were reportedly as many as 70 people unaccounted for since the blaze, which police fear was so devastating that some victims may never be identified. The official number of deaths has sparked anger and confusion within the local community, where people believe the true number is considerably higher. |
| The severity of the damage caused by the blaze has restricted the emergency services’ efforts to find and identify victims. Among the appeal posters, one said: “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.” | The severity of the damage caused by the blaze has restricted the emergency services’ efforts to find and identify victims. Among the appeal posters, one said: “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 said: “Fathia Alsanonse MISSING. People still can’t get through to her. Please keep an eye out.” Next to it was a picture of a smiling woman. | Another said: “Fathia Alsanonse MISSING. People still can’t get through to her. Please keep an eye out.” Next to it was 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 rise dramatically 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. |
| Kensington and Chelsea council had attempted to climb down from a statement that suggested it would not be able to house all survivors of the blaze in the local area. A spokesman said the statement sent out at 1.46pm on Friday was wrong. It had said: “While we will try do our utmost to ensure those affected remain in or near the borough, given the number of households involved, it is possible the council will have to explore housing options that may become available in other parts of the capital.” | Kensington and Chelsea council had attempted to climb down from a statement that suggested it would not be able to house all survivors of the blaze in the local area. A spokesman said the statement sent out at 1.46pm on Friday was wrong. It had said: “While we will try do our utmost to ensure those affected remain in or near the borough, given the number of households involved, it is possible the council will have to explore housing options that may become available in other parts of the capital.” |
| Later a council spokesman said: “Our understanding has changed. Once our housing people have looked at this in greater detail we will be issuing a new statement.” | |
| Lines of volunteers emerged from the Notting Hill Methodist church on Friday carrying hundreds of boxes from the church to a lorry parked outside, while at Latymer, a similar operation was under way. Ian Pilcher, a former British army officer who is leading the volunteer effort at Notting Hill Methodist church, said the devastation caused by the fire was comparable to what he witnessed at war. | |
| Pilcher, 50, a former captain who served with the King’s Regiment in Northern Ireland, the Balkans and north Africa, now working as a private security consultant, has been helping with logistics at the church since Wednesday. | |
| He said the church had received a couple of metric tonnes of food, drink and toiletries, as well as seven Luton vans full of clothing. From predominantly walk-in donations, the church had also received televisions, mobile phones and even vehicles, he said. | He said the church had received a couple of metric tonnes of food, drink and toiletries, as well as seven Luton vans full of clothing. From predominantly walk-in donations, the church had also received televisions, mobile phones and even vehicles, he said. |
| Pilcher woke to the noise of “siren after siren after siren” in the early hours of Wednesday and witnessed the blaze. He said: “In many ways it’s like being in a war because of the number of innocent people. In places like Bosnia there were many innocent people and there was a clear enemy. Here, nobody expected to die in their beds because there’s a fire.” | Pilcher woke to the noise of “siren after siren after siren” in the early hours of Wednesday and witnessed the blaze. He said: “In many ways it’s like being in a war because of the number of innocent people. In places like Bosnia there were many innocent people and there was a clear enemy. Here, nobody expected to die in their beds because there’s a fire.” |