Fireman’s disgust at Grenfell race claims

ONE of the first firemen to tackle the Grenfell blaze has told of his disgust at claims that ‘institutional racism’ may have hampered the rescue.

David Badillo, who lost a family friend in the tower, described the insinuation by a QC at the inquiry as a ‘hurtful blow’ to all the firefighters who tried to save lives last June.

The allegations were made by Imran Khan QC, who represents more than 25 relatives and survivors, and who also said that witness statements given by some firefighters used ethnic stereotypes, that suggested a level of ‘unconscious or some conscious racism’. He added: ‘If that is the case we simply ask the question, did it have any impact on the way individuals were treated on that night?’

Mr Badillo responded on Facebook, writing: ‘I have tried to stay dignified through a torrent of abuse, but cannot stay silent any more. To be accused of racism in front of the nation is an absolute disgrace.

‘I’m disgusted by Mr Khan QC and his suggestion of institutional racism in the London Fire Brigade. This slur is another hurtful blow to me and fellow firefighters who gave all they had…to rescue as many as they could from Grenfell Tower.’

Mr Badillo, of North Kensington fire station’s red watch, is a close friend of Manfred Ruiz, whose niece, Jessica Urbano, 12, died on the top floor. The fire killed 72 people in total.