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Grenfell Tower: Kitchen fire resident 'did the right thing' Grenfell Tower: Kitchen fire resident 'did the right thing'
(35 minutes later)
The man who lived in the flat in which the Grenfell Tower fire started did "the right thing from start to finish", a public inquiry has heard.The man who lived in the flat in which the Grenfell Tower fire started did "the right thing from start to finish", a public inquiry has heard.
Lawyer Rajiv Menon said his client, Behailu Kebede, called 999 and alerted his flatmates and fourth-floor neighbours as soon as he saw smoke.Lawyer Rajiv Menon said his client, Behailu Kebede, called 999 and alerted his flatmates and fourth-floor neighbours as soon as he saw smoke.
Barefoot and clutching his phone, he then left the building and watched in horror as the fire spread up the tower.Barefoot and clutching his phone, he then left the building and watched in horror as the fire spread up the tower.
Mr Menon said the fire was accidental and Mr Kebede bore no responsibility.Mr Menon said the fire was accidental and Mr Kebede bore no responsibility.
"He is a good man. He did nothing wrong," said Mr Menon."He is a good man. He did nothing wrong," said Mr Menon.
Ethiopian-born Mr Kebede, who had lived in the block for 25 years, desperately wanted to do more to help his neighbours and friends, the inquiry heard.Ethiopian-born Mr Kebede, who had lived in the block for 25 years, desperately wanted to do more to help his neighbours and friends, the inquiry heard.
"But what else could he do? He felt utterly helpless.""But what else could he do? He felt utterly helpless."
Later that morning Mr Kebede went straight to the police station to be interviewed after the police called him, the inquiry heard.Later that morning Mr Kebede went straight to the police station to be interviewed after the police called him, the inquiry heard.
Mr Menon said it was important to stress Mr Hebede was a significant witness in the police investigation - not a criminal suspect.Mr Menon said it was important to stress Mr Hebede was a significant witness in the police investigation - not a criminal suspect.
'Feelings of guilt''Feelings of guilt'
He accused parts of the media of peddling a "nasty lie" that Mr Kebede had packed a suitcase on his way out, and said that, in the days after the fire, Mr Kebede was harassed by journalists offering large sums of money for his story.He accused parts of the media of peddling a "nasty lie" that Mr Kebede had packed a suitcase on his way out, and said that, in the days after the fire, Mr Kebede was harassed by journalists offering large sums of money for his story.
This came as Mr Kebede was trying to comprehend the "enormity of the fire" and cope with distress, trauma, insomnia and allay feelings of guilt, the inquiry was told.This came as Mr Kebede was trying to comprehend the "enormity of the fire" and cope with distress, trauma, insomnia and allay feelings of guilt, the inquiry was told.
In the year since, Mr Kebede has suffered with poor health, been forced to move home and police have even suggested placing him under witness protection, the inquiry heard.In the year since, Mr Kebede has suffered with poor health, been forced to move home and police have even suggested placing him under witness protection, the inquiry heard.
Mr Menon went on to say that the Hotpoint fridge freezer, thought to be a likely source of the fire, was bought brand new five years before the fire. The inquiry believes the fire started in the corner of Mr Kebede's kitchen where a Hotpoint fridge freezer stood, but has not yet determined the cause.
It had been problem-free and never needed fixing by an expert or himself. Mr Menon said the fridge was bought brand new five years before the fire, and had been problem-free.
Mr Menon also pointed out that fridge freezer fires were not uncommon, saying there were 300 such fires a year in the UK. He also pointed out that fridge freezer fires were not uncommon, saying there were 300 such fires a year in the UK.
Mr Menon went on to support calls for the inquiry to consider whether racial or class discrimination played a role in the disaster, to yells of approval and applause from the room.
But several people were swiftly admonished by inquiry chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick, who said he would not tolerate "shouting, calling out or anything else from those in the room".
'Ugly and safe''Ugly and safe'
On Tuesday, lawyers for some of the survivors and the bereaved told the hearing that a refurbishment, overseen by Kensington Council, had turned the tower into a "death trap".On Tuesday, lawyers for some of the survivors and the bereaved told the hearing that a refurbishment, overseen by Kensington Council, had turned the tower into a "death trap".
Leslie Thomas, representing a group of the bereaved and survivors, picked up on the issue of refurbishment work, saying it was "incontrovertible" that the tower was made less safe by the introduction of flammable material on its outside.Leslie Thomas, representing a group of the bereaved and survivors, picked up on the issue of refurbishment work, saying it was "incontrovertible" that the tower was made less safe by the introduction of flammable material on its outside.
He said one client had told him the refurbishment "changed the building from being an ugly, safe council block to a death trap that looked like a pretty private block".He said one client had told him the refurbishment "changed the building from being an ugly, safe council block to a death trap that looked like a pretty private block".
"The state palpably failed in its primary duty to protect its citizens and as for the corporates, silence speaks a thousand words," he added."The state palpably failed in its primary duty to protect its citizens and as for the corporates, silence speaks a thousand words," he added.
The inquiry into last year's fire in west London, which caused 72 deaths, is on the third day of the fact-finding stage.The inquiry into last year's fire in west London, which caused 72 deaths, is on the third day of the fact-finding stage.
Earlier, over seven days, it heard bereaved families commemorate those who had lost their lives in moving tributes.Earlier, over seven days, it heard bereaved families commemorate those who had lost their lives in moving tributes.
The inquiry is expected to hear from Kensington Council and the Tenant Management Organisation later.The inquiry is expected to hear from Kensington Council and the Tenant Management Organisation later.
Day-by-day: the inquiry so farDay-by-day: the inquiry so far