Fire woe deepens as toll rises to 58
POLICE have confirmed the worst fears of those searching for survivors from the Grenfell Tower disaster, saying the 58 people missing since the fire are assumed to be dead.
The grim news yesterday came as protests continued around the foot of the blackened tower block, with Prime Minister Theresa May again called a “murderer’’ and authorities criticised for their flatfooted response to the deadly fire, the worst in London in a generation.
Metropolitan Police Com- mander Stuart Cundy confirmed yesterday that in addition to the 30 bodies located, another 28 people were also believed to have died.
“The fire was truly horrific. For me this is just a human tragedy,’’ Mr Cundy said, as he was heckled by onlookers as he spoke outside a church in Notting Hill near the tower.
He said police had confirmed the identity of one of the victims — 23-year-old Syrian refugee Mohammad Alhajali, who died after being separated from his brother Omar.
“His family is being sup- ported by liaison officers from the Metropolitan Police,’’ Mr Cundy said.
“As the days go on we will also, with the agreement of the coroner, be able to identify others who have died.’’
Mohammad’s family said: “Mohammad was a very amazing and kind person. He gave love to everyone.”
Police and firefighters, assisted by urban search and rescue dogs, have now been able to access every one of the Grenfell Tower’s 24 floors.
Sixteen of the victims have been taken to the mortuary.
Mr Cundy defended the time taken to reveal the true toll — which has been criticised by residents who accused authorities of downplaying the disaster.
He said 6000 calls had been made to the police casualty bureau reporting 400 of the tower’s residents as missing.
Police had worked through the list and now believed 58 was the likely toll, although he said that number could still climb. “Sadly at this time there are 58 people who we were told were in Grenfell Tower on the night, who were missing, who I have to assume are dead,’’ Mr Cundy said.