grenfell tower
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Grenfell Anniversary: Activist Rapper Lowkey Takes Aim At Boris Johnson and UK Neoliberalism
14 June 2021 — MintPress News Corporate Greed Four years after the Grenfell Tower fire, rapper and activist Lowkey revisits the tragic fire that tore through the North Kensington tower block on June 14, 2017 — killing 72 low-income residents of housing owned by real-estate moguls. By Lowkey Lowkey Continue reading
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Surrounding land left highly toxic after Grenfell Tower inferno By Thomas Scripps
The preliminary findings of a study into the widespread presence of toxic substances in the area around the fire that destroyed Grenfell tower in London were published in the journal Chemosphere. Continue reading
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London Metropolitan Police cite Grenfell Inquiry to justify not pressing criminal charges By Robert Stevens and Chris Marsden
London’s Metropolitan Police will not press any charges regarding the 72 deaths at Grenfell Tower until “the latter part of 2021.” They justify this extraordinary admission by citing the need to wait for the government inquiry into Grenfell to complete its business. Continue reading
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New study reveals more details on deadly flammable cladding used on Grenfell Tower By Alice Summers
Flammable cladding similar to the material which had covered Grenfell Tower is still being widely used across the UK. The combustible cladding used on Grenfell was a significant factor in allowing the rapid spread of a small fire and creating toxic smoke with deadly consequences on June 14, 2017. Continue reading
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Grenfell Tower: Class action lawsuit in US against flammable cladding manufacturer By Paul Bond
The suit, first filed one month after the fire of June 14, 2017 by shareholder Michael Brave, accuses Arconic of defrauding shareholders over its supply of cladding panels at Grenfell Tower. Brave is seeking to recoup “significant” shareholder losses stemming from the company’s failure to disclose its use of “highly flammable” Reynobond PE cladding panels… Continue reading
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UK: Investigation into Grenfell fire will “take years, not months,” police say
London Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick reiterated that it will be years before the “criminal investigation” into the Grenfell Tower fire is concluded. Continue reading
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A tale of two cities: Grenfell Tower and the “ultra-luxury” lives of the super-rich By Robert Stevens
Quam bonum in Unum habitare —“What a good thing it is to dwell together in unity” The above is the motto of the Conservative-run Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea council (RBKC) in London. We suggest it be changed, as RBKC is carrying out its social cleansing agenda to such an extent that a more… Continue reading
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Second phase of Grenfell inquiry delayed for a year By Alice Summers
The first phase concluded more than a year after its first session in September 2017. The inquiry has strict limitations about what can be discussed and when, with the first phase only taking witness and expert testimony regarding the night of the June 14, 2017 fire that killed 72 people. Continue reading
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Still no justice as phase one of Grenfell Tower fire inquiry closes By Paul Bond
Almost 18 months after the Grenfell Tower fire of June 14, 2017, which resulted in the deaths of 72 people, the warnings of the Socialist Equality Party and the Grenfell Fire Forum that the official inquiry would be a whitewash have been confirmed. Continue reading
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Combustible cladding doomed Grenfell Tower within 10 minutes of initial fire By Barry Mason
The Grenfell fire inquiry continues to hear evidence confirming that the renovation of Grenfell Tower turned it from an inherently safe building into a death trap. Continue reading
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UK government’s crocodile tears over burning of Grenfell Tower effigy backfire By Robert Stevens
The cardboard model had cut out paper figures with brown faces, looking out of the tower windows, with the perpetrators making derogatory comments about Grenfell Tower residents. As it is set on fire, one participant is heard saying, “Help me, help me!” and “Jump out the window!” Another says to laughter, in a reference to… Continue reading
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The Fires that Foretold Grenfell—Documentary reveals how UK governments ignored lessons of previous fire tragedies By Margo Miller
The Fires that Foretold Grenfell, a well-researched, powerful documentary, is essential viewing for anyone seeking to understand the causes of and background to the June 2017 Grenfell fire tragedy. It includes harrowing interviews with survivors of five fires across the UK over a span of 45 years, their families and firefighters. Continue reading
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Residents oppose official cover-up of Grenfell fire toxic contamination By Barry Mason
Survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire, along with concerned local residents, have demanded answers as to why no action has been taken over soil sample tests showing levels of toxicity in the vicinity of the inferno. Continue reading
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UK: Report reveals widespread soil contamination after Grenfell Tower fire By Alice Summers
Large concentrations of harmful toxins have been found in the dust and soil around Grenfell Tower. The toxins, which are potentially carcinogenic and may have long-term health implications for survivors of the fire and for local residents, have been identified in the preliminary findings of a study by toxicology expert, Professor Anna Stec. Continue reading
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Grenfell Tower: Survivors and bereaved give evidence—“We will not be silenced anymore” By Paul Bond
The Inquiry is separating evidence about the night’s events from submissions on wider issues concerning the responsibility for the fire of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) and the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO)—which managed the building on its behalf. These are scheduled for Phase Two of the Inquiry, which will… Continue reading
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London Review of Books publishes scurrilous account of Grenfell Tower fire By Alice Summers
O’Hagan’s piece is characterised by vicious and dishonest misrepresentations, inaccuracies, the demonization of local activists, residents and firefighters, and hymns of praise to the local council. Continue reading
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UK: Tories seek to defuse anger over Grenfell fire ahead of official public inquiry By Robert Stevens
The 156-page report, published more than 11 months after last June’s fire that killed at least 72 people, was denounced by the Grenfell families and other campaigners. Continue reading
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Metropolitan Police try to block Freedom of Information requests over Grenfell Tower By Simon Whelan
London Metropolitan Police have advised the Kensington and Chelsea Council (KCC) to prevent the release of correspondence that could provide damaging information on the failure to prevent a serious fire at Grenfell Tower. Police officers are monitoring and vetting Freedom of Information requests regarding what the council knew of fire risks to Grenfell Tower, and… Continue reading
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Video: Real Media: Challenging the Narrative with Grenfell MediaWatch
Toyin and Angie from Grenfell MediaWatch discuss the misleading stories and PR campaigns surrounding the Grenfell Tower disaster, and what justice would look like to them (inc. transcript) Continue reading
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Grenfell Tower fire eyewitnesses: “It’s because of our class—we are the lowest socioeconomic class on the food chain”
20 September 2017 — WSWS Salma was an eyewitness to the Grenfell Tower fire. She knew the Wahabi family, of whom all five members perished in the inferno. She explained to the WSWS, “I live quite close to the block and what I saw that night was a catalogue of errors. It started as a Continue reading
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