‘Corporations killed London Grenfell fire disaster victims’

This 15 June 2017 Channel 4 TV video from England says about itself:

Musician Akala: People died in London fire ‘because they were poor’

Jon Snow spoke to the MOBO award-winning musician and writer Akala and local resident Joe Delaney about their response to the fire at Grenfell Tower in west London.

Akala told Jon Snow:

“The people who died and lost their homes, this happened to them because they are poor.

“We are in one of the richest spaces not just in London, but in the world.

“Repeated requests were ignored.

“There is no way rich people live in a building without adequate fire safety.

“Everyone I spoke to who was out there couldn’t hear alarms, there was no sprinkler system”

By Marcus Barnett in Britain:

Friday, January 31, 2020

Firms told their greed killed fire’s 72 victims

CORPORATIONS that refurbished Grenfell Tower are responsible for the deaths of its residents “as sure as if they had taken careful aim with a gun and pulled the trigger,” the inquiry heard yesterday.

Acting on behalf of a group of Grenfell families, Sam Stein QC said companies “killed” the flat-block’s 72 residents when they “promoted their unsuitable, dangerous products in pursuit of money and a place within the market.”

He listed the names of residents who died in the blaze, including the Choucair family, of whom six perished, and Logan Gomes, an unborn baby who died of smoke poisoning while in his mother’s womb.

Witnesses from the firms involved in supplying the flammable materials were also accused by Grenfell families of trying to “sabotage” the inquiry, after they said they would stay silent unless they are guaranteed immunity from prosecution.

Stephanie Barwise QC, for another group of victims and survivors, told the hearing: “The timing of this application, if it was going to be made, should have been made many months ago.

“It gives the appearance of sabotaging this inquiry.”

Michael Mansfield QC, also for victims, has called the timing of the bid for immunity “highly reprehensible and highly questionable.”

See also here.

Firms responsible for covering Grenfell in flammable cladding demand immunity from prosecution: here.