Angry Grenfell survivors shout ‘arrest someone’ at public meeting
Written by News on 13/07/2017
Angry Grenfell Tower survivors shouted "arrest someone" at the officer heading the police investigation into the blaze and heckled their new council chief at a public meeting.
It was a chance to question senior investigating officer Matt Bonner, who said the investigation would "not be quick but it would be thorough".
The gathering descended into chaos as anger about the progress of the investigation boiled over.
"When are we going to get justice?" asked one resident.
"There is no connection between the upper class and working class whatsoever, and that divide is getting bigger and bigger, and in Kensington and Chelsea it’s the biggest divide you’ll ever see," another told Sky News.
"We keep on asking the right questions, simple questions, black and white questions, and we’re not getting black and white answers," said another resident.
Elizabeth Campbell, the new leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council who had earlier admitted she had never been inside one of her high-rise flats before the tragedy, was also a target of residents’ frustration.
"Four weeks on from this fire and the anger seems to be building. There are questions over whether they will see any arrests, and whether the residents still living here are safe," said Sky’s Siobhan Robbins, who was at the meeting.
"As this community grieves for their dead, their need for answers continues to grow.
"They want the facts about why so many lives were lost and reassurances it will never happen again."
Grenfell Tower’s 24 floors have been left ravaged by the fire on 14 June.
At least 80 people are thought to have died in the blaze, but that number could rise.
An inquiry has been ordered by Prime Minister Theresa May into the tragedy which is being chaired by Sir Martin Moore-Bick.
On Wednesday, Coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox said 34 of those who are believed to have died in the disaster have been formally identified, as 10 more inquests were opened and adjourned.
She has suspended all 30 inquests held so far while the public inquiry and criminal investigation are carried out.
Checks on other high-rise buildings nationwide have so far revealed 224 buildings across 57 local authority areas used material that failed fire safety tests.
Later, the capital’s mayor Sadiq Khan will appear before the London Assembly to tell members what lessons have been learnt from the tragedy.
(c) Sky News 2017: Angry Grenfell survivors shout ‘arrest someone’ at public meeting
