Six arrests over ‘sick’ Grenfell bonfire

SIX men arrested in connection with the burning of an effigy of Grenfell Tower have been released under investigation, police said last night.

Detectives yesterday raided the property where the “sickening” incident took place and made their sixth arrest in connection with the incident.

Three plainclothes police officers spent two hours at the home of Clifford Smith, 49, and his son, Bobbi Connell, 19, in south-east London, before leaving with three bags of evidence.

The pair handed themselves into police on Monday night along with three other partygoers, after a national outcry was sparked when a video was uploaded to social media showing a group of people allegedly jeering as they burnt an effigy of Grenfell Tower.

Yesterday afternoon a 19-year-old became the sixth person detained but police last night said all six had been released under investigation.

In a statement Scotland Yard said: “The men, aged 19, 46, 49, 49, 55 and 19 were all arrested under section 4a of the Public Order Act after attending a south London police station. The Met’s Grenfell Tower Investigation Team continues to lead enquiries.”

It is thought the searches of the house may have been ordered in an attempt to ascertain whether any hate crime had been committed and whether the offences may have been racially aggravated.

An aerial view of the smart detached property showed an England flag attached to a flagpole, lying yards from an area of charred lawn where the bonfire is thought to have taken place on Saturday night.

The video is thought to have been taken by a guest at the private bonfire party before being uploaded to the Whatsapp messaging site and then being shared more widely.

Metropolitan Police Commander Stuart Cundy, who is leading the investigation into the Grenfell disaster, said he was “frankly appalled by the callous nature” of the video. But some commentators questioned the scale of the investigation given that police in south-east London have had to deal with four murders in a matter of days.

The incident also follows a fierce debate over whether the police should concentrate on core policing rather than spend time investigating so-called hate crimes.

Colin Sutton, a retired Met detective chief inspector, said: “I have sympathy for the police because they are damned if they do and damned it they don’t. This was a terrible and unforgivable thing to do but there is a question over whether it breaks the law.

“Perhaps the best way of dealing with this is for the culprits to be named and shamed because trying to police bad taste – even if it is the most extreme bad taste – is not necessarily an effective use of limited resources.”

Sir Martin Moore-bick, the chairman of the public inquiry into the fire at Grenfell Tower, called the video “offensive” as he opened yesterday’s hearing, saying: “The inquiry is aware of the offensive video that was posted online. It must be shocking and distressing to all those involved. I am pleased to hear that the authorities are taking the matter very seriously.”

SIR – Boris Johnson (Comment, November 5) is right that we need to mount a robust defence of free speech.

Sadly a culture has developed where opposing views are being shut down rather than debated and challenged. This is not good for society or for democracy. We must be able to discuss burning issues without fear of being harassed and threatened – especially on social media.

There is no right not to be offended, and genuine hate speech that fuels violence and extremism is unlawful. The debate on rights for transgender people is a clear example of where we must be able to have an open, honest and respectful discussion that takes into account concerns on all sides.

Attacks on free speech arise from technological change and increased “hypersensitivity” as well as increased political polarisation. We need strong leadership from all over the political divide to ensure respectful debate.

Freedom of speech is central to everything we hold dear – justice, freedom and compassion.

David Isaac

Chair, Equality and Human Rights Commission Manchester

SIR – The universal condemnation of whoever posted a video of a mock Grenfell Tower on a bonfire in someone’s back garden was entirely justified. The video was offensive and in extremely poor taste.

However, the news that a Metropolitan Police commander was leading an investigation and that five people had been arrested suggests that police priorities have gone astray.

I am not aware that a Twitter storm can be categorised as disturbing the peace. Is bad taste a hate crime?

How much police time has been used in this investigation? Would police officers have been more productive patrolling the streets to deter drug dealing and stabbings?

Michael Staples

Seaford, East Sussex