Occupant where flats fire began ‘terrified’ to speak up

THE TRAUMATISED occupant of the flat where the Grenfell Tower fire started is “terrified” to speak at the public inquiry after a “campaign of harassment” and lies about his role in the tragedy.

Fourth-floor resident Behailu Kebede acted “quickly and instinctively” when he was woken by his smoke alarm on June 14 2017, calling 999 and alerting neighbours, Rajiv Menon QC told the public inquiry into the disaster.

It is suspected the fire began in a Hotpoint fridge-freezer in his flat before catching on to the external cladding and rapidly spreading up the tower’s side.

The hearing was told yesterday that Mr Kebede woke up everyone on the floor by yelling: “Fire! Fire! Fire!” and turned off the electricity before leaving fleeing barefoot without his keys or wallet - acting “exactly” how any resident should have done.

He was not clutching a suitcase containing his hastily assembled belongings – a “nasty lie” reported at the time which is still being repeated.

Inquiry chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick was called upon to make it clear that Mr Kebede was “absolutely blameless” following a “campaign of harassment” by the media.

Mr Menon said: “If the inquiry does not explicitly exonerate Mr Kebede, all these sleazy accusations and hurtful innuendo, all the racist assumptions and ignorance that currently prevail will continue unabated.

“The inquiry needs to set the record straight. The inquiry needs to change the narrative about Behailu Kebede.”

After the fire, journalists are said to have begun to relentlessly hound Mr Kebede, who had lived in the west London highrise block for 25 years, Mr Menon said.

He became increasing distressed, anxious and traumatised, on top of trying to allay feelings of guilt, and is now “terrified” at the prospect of giving evidence in person.

Police became so concerned about Mr Kebede’s safety that “they suggested witness protection”.

Some 71 people died after the fire spread through the building.

The cause of the tragedy is still being investigated.