TOWER FAMILIES STORM TOWN HALL
Raging relatives attack council offices
HUNDREDS of angry family members affected by the Grenfell Tower fire stormed council offices last night demanding “justice”.
They called on bosses to speak to them, as the search for more than 70 people continues.
HUNDREDS of angry protesters stormed a town hall last night demanding “justice” for victims of the Grenfell Tower disaster.
Council staff were evacuated as the crowd swarmed in, chanting “we want justice” and “murderers”.
Dozens raced up a staircase at Kensington Town Hall before being pushed back by police.
A man believed to be a member of the tower management was attacked by protesters outside.
Demonstrations went on into the night as desperate relatives continued to search for more than 70 loved ones still missing.
PM Theresa May announced a £5million emergency aid fund during a meeting with survivors.
But protesters later marched to Downing Street to attack the Government’s response to the fire.
They brought traffic to a standstill as they chanted “May must go”, and “Justice for Grenfell”.
More than 100 people are now feared dead following Wednesday’s fire at the west London tower block. Thirty people are so far confirmed to have died, while 24 of the injured remain in hospital.
New cladding on the side of the building has been blamed by residents for turning the blaze into an inferno. The cladding was said to have been put up to improve the views of wealthy neighbours.
Failed
Tenants repeatedly raised concerns about fire safety at the tower but nothing was done.
Mustafa Almansur, an organiser of yesterday’s rally, said: “The reason for the protest is so far the general public have done everything. The council has failed to do anything in public.”
He said protesters went into the town hall in a bid to meet senior executives but “police were inside the building already not allowing anybody to go up the stairs”.
Earlier he told protesters: “The outpouring of love and generosity from the public has been extraordinary – £5m has already been raised. But neither the leader of the council nor his cabinet have made any commitments to those who have suffered. We demand the chief executive and the leader respond to the victims.”
Protesters demanded to know who had died in the fire. And they called for a guarantee that people who had lost their homes would be re-housed in the borough.
The council has said it may have to “explore” housing victims in “other parts of the capital”.
Mr Almansur added: “We want to see all necessary measures taken to ensure this tragedy will never be repeated in London again.” Singer Lily Allen, who joined the protesters, called for more to be done for the families.
Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation said it understood “the growing demand for answers” and was helping find “relevant information”.