‘Tower panel firms killed all 72 victims’

COMPANIES that refurbished Grenfell Tower “killed those 72 people as sure as if they had taken careful aim with a gun and pulled the trigger”, the public inquiry into the disaster has heard.

Witnesses involved in choosing flammable materials for the revamp were also accused of trying to “sabotage the inquiry” after they threatened to stay silent unless they are given immunity from prosecution.

There were groans from survivors and victims on Wednesday after staff at key companies submitted a “highly reprehensible” last-minute legal bid seeking an Attorney Generalbacked guarantee which would stop any evidence they gave being used against them in future criminal proceedings.

Stephanie Barwise QC, for one group of victims and survivors, told the hearing yesterday that the timing of the application “gives the appearance of sabotaging this inquiry”.

The hearing has been told designers, contractors and fire safety engineers had “expressly foreseen” the risks of installing the cladding.

Main contractor Rydon, external wall subcontractor Harley Facades, refurbishment architects Studio E and fire inspectors Exova allegedly knew the proposed cladding in which the 129-flat tower was to be encased would burn and fall off if exposed to fire.

Combustible aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding panels were chosen in 2014 as an alternative to zinc to save up to £454,000 on the £9.2 million Grenfell Tower refit, the inquiry has heard.

Sam Stein QC, for another group, told the hearing: “The companies responsible killed those 72 people as sure as if they had taken careful aim with a gun and pulled the trigger.”