We have become a family after disaster, says victim relative

BEREAVED families and survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire are now “a family”, a man who lost his uncle has said.

Hundreds of mourners paused for a moment of silent reflection on their way out of a ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral to mark six months since the tragedy.

The faces of those who lost their lives on June 14 stared out from the crowd as grieving relatives held their images aloft.

Karim Mussilhy, nephew of victim Hesham Rahman, told the Press Association: “It felt very powerful, it was very emotional. We have now become like family, we talk to each other on a daily basis, we put our arms around each other and fight together.

“It was a very special moment for us all to be together, pictures of all the loved ones that we lost, and to be shown as a unified community, family, which is what we are.”

The Prime Minister, the leader of the Labour Party and members of the Royal Family were among the 1,500 who attended the central London ceremony.

Mr Mussilhy added: “I was actually sitting quite close to Theresa May, Sadiq Khan, Jeremy Corbyn, Diane Abbott, Emma Dent [Coad] and Nick Hurd, they were all sitting together – it was a day where we put aside our political issues, we put aside our beliefs and we were here together remembering our loved ones.”

Mr Mussilhy is a member of Grenfell United, a body set up by survivors and bereaved families in the wake of the disaster, and wore a green badge symbolising the group on his lapel.

Shahin Sadafi, who lost his home in the fire, has since been elected the chairman of Grenfell United.

He said: “Today was an important and moving day for our community...

“We have a long journey ahead but today has also given us renewed hope and determination in our fight for justice and to rebuild our lives.”