Latest news with #Grenfell:Uncovered
Cosmopolitan
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Cosmopolitan
Has anyone been arrested following the Grenfell Tower fire?
On 14 June 2017, a deadly blaze erupted through Grenfell Tower, a 24-storey residential block in North London, which claimed the lives of 72 people and left dozens injured. Amongst those who died, 18 were children. Shortly after the fire, then-Prime Minister Theresa May ordered an inquiry to uncover what had happened leading up to the tragedy – and seven years later, Sir Martin Moore-Bick's 1700-page report catalogued a 'decade of failure', citing issues within government, building companies and manufacturers which led to Grenfell becoming the UK's deadliest residential fire since the Blitz in World War II. At the time of writing, there have been no arrests or criminal charges levelled against any individual in relation to the Grenfell Tower fire, with the Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service stating it is unlikely any charges will be announced before the end of 2026 (at the earliest) due to the sheer 'scale and complexity' of the case. It leaves those who lost loved ones in the fire with an agonising wait for justice, particularly as it looks set to take more than a decade since the incident before anyone will head to court, if indeed any criminal charges are brought. Olaide Iqbal, the documentary maker behind Grenfell: Uncovered, knows how acutely the frustration of the community is felt. She worked closely alongside many families who lived in Grenfell during the time of the fire in order to make the new Netflix film exploring the case. 'There's still very much a community who are waiting for answers, that are waiting for justice, and their story doesn't feel resolved,' she tells Cosmopolitan UK. 'They've not had any closure, and for a number of people in the community directly affected by Grenfell, there's a resounding sense of people wanting justice, wanting answers and wanting their story to be kept alive, particularly when many feel like it's being erased.' In 2020, Leslie Thomas, a lawyer representing the bereaved families of Grenfell, urged the inquiry to not dismiss the impact of race and class, and how it may have contributed to the deaths of Grenfell's 72 victims. 'The Grenfell fire did not happen in a vacuum,' Thomas said in a statement at the inquiry, as reported by the BBC. 'A majority of the Grenfell residents who died were people of colour. Grenfell is inextricably linked with race. It is the elephant in the room. This disaster happened in a pocket of one of the smallest yet richest boroughs in London. "Yet the community affected was predominantly working-class. That is the stark reality that cannot be ignored.' While Iqbal acknowledges that there is an ongoing criminal investigation which is taking place, she knows there's a similar sentiment amongst the people she spoke to as part of Grenfell: Uncovered. They feel their social standing may have impacted the path to justice. 'It's definitely a community that has felt that their class, their race, their culture has played a part in why they were treated the way they were in the lead up to Grenfell, and some believe that's why they've been treated in a particular way since the fire as well,' she says. 'But making the documentary… we saw how complicated Grenfell is. It's not like there's a single person you can go and slap handcuffs on. I think because there's just that many people involved, and when a case is so big and goes back for so many decades, it's tricky to know where to start. 'As the inquiry concluded, so many different factors, in one way or another, contributed to the fire. But I understand the frustration to the community. When you go out and see that people have gone on to do bigger and maybe better things despite their actions or inactions that led to the fire, it's definitely frustrating. 'It's why those with big platforms, and hopefully this documentary, can keep Grenfell in people's mouths and minds, as it's something everyone should care about.' Grenfell: Uncovered is available on Netflix now Kimberley Bond is a Multiplatform Writer for Harper's Bazaar, focusing on the arts, culture, careers and lifestyle. She previously worked as a Features Writer for Cosmopolitan UK, and has bylines at The Telegraph, The Independent and British Vogue among countless others.
Cosmopolitan
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
'A victim of greed': Bereaved sisters pay tribute to ‘hero' brother who died in the Grenfell Tower fire
On 14 June 2017, a fire broke out in a kitchen at Grenfell Tower in North Kensington, London. It spread at an unprecedented rate, engulfing the 24-storey building and raging for 60 hours as the fire brigade battled to control it. As a result of the 'decades of failure' (uncovered in the seven-year-long inquiry that followed), 72 people heartbreakingly died in Grenfell Tower, with 70 others left injured. Now, a new Netflix documentary examines the factors which led to the fire at Grenfell, as well as paying its respects to those that passed away, speaking to families to hear their stories. One such story on Grenfell: Uncovered is that of Raymond 'Moses' Bernard, who died fighting to protect the other residents amidst the inferno. The 63-year-old grandfather was well-known to the Grenfell community, having lived in the tower block for 30 years. He was beloved around West London in general, his family say, having moved to the UK from the Caribbean in the 1960s, when he was just 16. 'He was known as a sound man,' Ray's sister Jackie recalls to Cosmopolitan UK. 'He went to all the clubs to play Soca music and reggae. He was well-known around Carnival.' 'Ray was a real gentle soul,' agrees younger sister Bernie. 'He was widely known for his generosity and for always putting other people first. 'He had a reputation for being a protector.' While Ray, who lived on the 24th floor of Grenfell, saw the tower block as its home, it didn't mean his flat was without its faults. Bernie, who visited Ray often and also considered Grenfell to be a home from home, said Ray's flat had a leak in its ceiling. However, when Ray (or Bernie, calling on Ray's behalf) complained to the Kensington & Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation, who supervised Grenfell at the time, Bernie explains he was treated 'like an irritation'. 'They were often extremely rude,' Bernie recalls, 'Or they'd tell you they'd get back to you, but more often than not, they didn't. They weren't there to help. In my opinion, they completely forgot their role.' It was particularly worrying, as Ray became less able-bodied as he got older, with his severe arthritis meaning he sometimes walked with a stick. On the night of the fire itself, Bernie wasn't immediately concerned about Ray's safety. She had been called by a friend who lived nearby, who alerted her to the incident. 'It was a big concrete block,' she says. 'There had been fires in the past at Grenfell that had always been contained. So when I first got the call asking whether Ray was home, I wasn't concerned at all. In the UK, your home is meant to be a safe place. I didn't have any idea what was going to transpire. 'I knew something was wrong when my friend rang again and I heard the panic in her voice. When I turned on the TV, I couldn't believe what I was seeing – but I kept telling myself Ray was going to be okay.' However, as part of a refurbishment of the Grenfell Tower block in 2016, the exterior of the building had been clad in an aluminium composite material (ACM) with polyethylene (PE) at its core. PE is highly flammable, which led to the quick spread of the fire. Residents were also not told to evacuate Grenfell; at the time, high-rise buildings in the UK had a 'stay put' policy, as fires were thought to be able to be contained in individual flats. It was a survivor of the Grenfell fire that informed Bernie and Jackie of Ray's bravery on the night of the blaze. While people were standing in hallways, as smoke flooded into their flats, Ray helped those looking for shelter and allowed them into his home which was less impacted at that time. As the smoke started to infiltrate, he let the women and children take refuge in his bedroom, while he kept trying to keep people safe. 'She wanted us to know that Ray was doing everything he possibly could to stop the fire from entering his apartment,' Bernie says, biting back tears. It was thought Ray died by the inhalation of toxic smoke. His body, which was identified via dental records, was found at the foot of his bed, while others found there were huddled on the bed. 'We know that he was the kind of person who would have done everything he could to ease the suffering of the people in his apartment,' Jackie says. It was testament to Ray's character, Bernie adds, that the last conversation she ever had with her older brother was about their mother, who was sick at the time. 'He basically said that our mum was his queen, and we needed to do whatever we can to look after her,' she recalls. 'Our mum passed just a few months after Grenfell. We think she died of a broken heart, as Ray was the favourite son.' Despite the Grenfell Tower inquiry finding a catalogue of failure and errors from the UK government and building authorities, there have been no criminal charges made at the time of writing. While the inquiry's 1700-page report suggested a number of recommendations to be implemented, for Bernie, nowhere near enough has been done to honour those who died in the fire, or for those families left to mourn them. 'For me, nothing's really changed,' she says. 'How could this have happened in the UK? There's still buildings with that cladding on it, and no-one has taken responsibility. The inquiry just showed everyone passing the buck.' Earlier this year, the government announced plans to demolish Grenfell Tower – however, not everyone necessarily wants the building to be removed entirely as it acts as a second memorial site to those who died. 'I understand that the tower has to come down,' Bernie says. 'We need to have a place where we can go to grieve the people that were cremated in that building.' Now, with eight years having passed since Grenfell, both Bernie and Jackie want Ray to be remembered for the hero that he was – but also that his death was entirely avoidable. 'He was a beautiful person,' Jackie says. 'He was caring, loving and giving.' Bernie adds: 'We also want him to be remembered as being a victim of greed, corruption, and dishonesty.' In a statement to Cosmopolitan UK, the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation said: 'We are acutely conscious of the terrible impact that this tragedy has had on the bereaved, the survivors, their relatives, and the broader Grenfell Tower community. We accept that the TMO contributed to this and we are deeply sorry. 'We continue to offer our deepest condolences and sympathies to all those affected. 'We sincerely hope that the findings of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry will lead to safer homes for all those in social housing.' The KCTMO relinquished its role as a housing provider in February 2018 to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It now exists for the sole purpose of supporting the public inquiry and all other legal proceedings resulting from the Grenfell Tower tragedy. There are no staff currently in place who were employed at the time of the tragedy. Kimberley Bond is a Multiplatform Writer for Harper's Bazaar, focusing on the arts, culture, careers and lifestyle. She previously worked as a Features Writer for Cosmopolitan UK, and has bylines at The Telegraph, The Independent and British Vogue among countless others.
India.com
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Latest OTT Releases (June 20-June 21): 7 New Films And Web Shows On ZEE5, Netflix, Prime Video & More
photoDetails english 2918620 Updated:Jun 20, 2025, 08:00 AM IST Must-Watch OTT Releases For June 20-June 21 Weekend 1 / 8 Must-Watch OTT Releases For June: With comedies, thrillers and mystery leading the charge, watch these fresh movies and series promising to keep you hooked in this weekend of June 2025. Here's taking a quick roundup of what's streaming this week on Netflix, Prime Video, JioHotstar and ZEE5. The Great Indian Kapil Show Season 3 – Netflix 2 / 8 The Great Indian Kapil Show 3 will open with the episode featuring Salman Khan. The hit comedy talk show which previously won hearts, will be back on Netflix. The Great Indian Kapil Show season 3 will premiere new episodes on June 21, 2025. Streaming from June 21 Kerala Crime Files Season 2 – JioHotstar 3 / 8 Kerala Crime Files is a Malayalam-language crime drama web series directed by Ahammed Khabeer and written by Ashiq Aimar starring Aju Varghese and Lal in lead roles. The first season Kerala Crime Files - Shiju, Parayil Veedu, Neendakara was released on 23 June 2023. The second season Kerala Crime Files 2 - The Search for CPO Ambili Raju will release on 20 June 2025. Streaming from June 20 Ground Zero – Prime Video 4 / 8 Ground Zero is an action thriller film directed by Tejas Prabha Vijay Deoskar and produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar, under Excel Entertainment. The film revolves around the story of BSF officer Narendra Nath Dhar Dubey, who led the operation in which terrorist Rana Tahir Nadeem, better known as Ghazi Baba, was killed in 2003. It stars Emraan Hashmi, Sai Tamhankar, and Zoya Hussain in the lead roles. Streaming from June 20 Detective Sherdil – ZEE5 5 / 8 Detective Sherdil is a mystery comedy film, directed by Ravi Chhabriya, who co-produced with Manmeet Singh, Roshni Singh and Ali Abbas Zafar under Zee5 Productions. The film stars Diljit Dosanjh, alongside Boman Irani, Ratna Pathak Shah, Chunky Panday, Diana Penty and Banita Sandhu. Streaming from June 20 Grenfell: Uncovered 6 / 8 Grenfell: Uncovered is based on the survivors, witnesses and experts telling the story of the tragic fire that engulfed a residential tower block in London and the investigation that ensued. It is directed Olaide Sadiq. It has been produced by Ahmed Peerbux, James Saville and Anna Prichard. Streaming from June 20 Found season 2 - JioHotstar 7 / 8 Found is an American procedural drama television series created by Nkechi Okoro Carroll that premiered on NBC on October 3, 2023 and concluded on May 15, 2025. The series is produced by Berlanti Productions and Rock My Soul Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television. Streaming from June 20 Olympo - Netflix 8 / 8 A young adult sports drama series Olympo is created by Jan Matheu, Laia Foguet, and Ibai Abad, the Spanish-language show immerses viewers in the high-pressure and intensely focused lives of high-performance Spanish athletes. It highlights the life of synchronised swim captain Amaia Olaberria, who lives under the microscope of perfection at the CAR Pirineos high-performance centre. Streaming from June 20
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Mirror
This Morning star emotional as Grenfell survivor describes losing unborn baby
This Morning presenters Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard were left emotional as they spoke to Grenfell Tower survivor Marcio Gomes on Wednesday's show. Marcio, a survivor of the devastating 2017 Grenfell Tower fire that claimed the lives of 72 people, including 18 children, shared his heart-wrenching story with the presenters of This Morning. During the emotional conversation, Marcio, who resided on the 21st floor, recounted the tragic loss of his unborn child. His wife was seven months pregnant at the time of the fire, and he poignantly recalled the moment at the hospital when medical staff broke the news: "At the hospital, they came to me and said-sorry." As Marcio paused to collect himself, Cat was visibly moved to tears. Tragically, his wife was in an induced coma and they were faced with a devastating decision, resulting in the stillbirth of their baby. Ben offered words of condolence, saying: "It's heartbreaking to hear what you've been through, you and all of those other families." Reflecting on the fateful day, Marcio told the ITV presenters that he was awoken by a neighbour in the early hours, alerting him to the fire. Cat asked when he realised the gravity of the situation, and Marcio admitted it wasn't until an hour after discovering the blaze, reports Wales Online. He explained: "When I really understood how bad it was, we've had fires in the tower before; it's not generally a problem, it's contained. Of course, that night, it was very different." Marcio recalled the initial moments after opening the door to his neighbour, with the lights still on and being reassured by the 999 operators. He added: "When I first opened the door to my neighbour, the lights were on; I couldn't really see much going on, phones 999, and it was, 'stay put, you're safe there'. Which was fine, and that was the advice we went with." During an intense interview on This Morning, Marcio described the harrowing moment he realised escape was imperative: "It was awful, it was something I'd never experienced before." Viewers of the daytime TV show were informed that Marcio had desperately contacted the fire brigade four times, initially being reassured that assistance was coming, before it became clear they needed to flee. In a terrifying recount, Marcio revealed: "As I looked into our bedroom, the fire came through our window. It set the curtains, the Moses basket, and basically my room alight. "I only had time to close the door, at that point I said, 'We've got to go, it's now or never'. We couldn't stay in the flat anymore." The gripping tale took another turn as Cat explained how Marcio was separated from his children in the thick smoke as they made their way down. However, they were miraculously reunited outside and ushered into an ambulance for safety. This Morning is available to watch on ITVX. Grenfell: Uncovered is available to watch on Netflix from June 20.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Government tackled over why Grenfell cladding ‘crooks' not behind bars
Ministers have been pressed over why 'crooks' running a firm that made the cladding on Grenfell Tower that was devastated in a fire eight years ago are 'not behind bars'. The call by Labour former minister Lord Rooker came after fresh evidence emerged that bosses at US-based manufacturing giant Arconic knew of the dangers posed by the highly flammable material prior to the 2017 disaster at the west London high-rise block, which claimed 72 lives. It followed the release of documents secured through legal action by the makers of a forthcoming Netflix documentary, Grenfell: Uncovered, which were shared with The Sunday Times. The final report of the Grenfell inquiry concluded each of the deaths was avoidable and had been preceded by 'decades of failure' by government and the building industry to act on the dangers of flammable materials on high-rise buildings. It also found victims, the bereaved and survivors were 'badly failed' through incompetence, dishonesty and greed. The tower block was covered in combustible products because of the 'systematic dishonesty' of firms who made and sold the cladding and insulation, inquiry chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick said last year. He also condemned the 'deliberate and sustained' manipulation of fire safety testing, misrepresentation of test data and misleading of the market. Arconic and insulation firms Kingspan and Celotex came in for particularly heavy criticism. Arconic was found to have 'deliberately concealed from the market the true extent of the danger' of using its cladding product, particularly on high-rise buildings. Kingspan had, from 2005 and even after the inquiry began, 'knowingly created a false market in insulation' for use on buildings over 18 metres, the report said. Celotex then, in an attempt to break into this market created by Kingspan, 'embarked on a dishonest scheme to mislead its customers and the wider market', Sir Martin concluded. The Cabinet Office confirmed in February that seven companies were facing possible bans – Arconic, Kingspan, former Celotex owners Saint-Gobain, fire inspectors Exova, design and build contractor Rydon, architect Studio E and subcontractor Harley Facades. Investigations were launched by the Government in March, assessing whether any engaged in professional misconduct for the purposes of the Procurement Act 2023, potentially leading them to be debarred from public contracts. Questioning the Government over progress on work to remove unsafe cladding from high-rise buildings, Lord Rooker said: 'Can we be assured that the companies identified in the Grenfell report as using dishonest strategies and making false claims, such as Kingspan, Celotex and Arconic, are not involved in any replacement work? 'The companies are reported to have manipulated test data and manipulated the market.' Speaking in the Lords chamber, where his comments are protected by parliamentary privilege, the peer added: 'The minister and other members will have read the exposure of the crooks running Arconic in a devastating article in the Sunday Times two days ago. Why are these people not behind bars?' Responding, communities minister Lord Khan of Burnley said: 'The Cabinet Office announced investigations into seven organisations, a few of which he mentioned. 'These organisations were named in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry report, enabled by the Procurement Act 2023, which came into force on February 24 2025. 'The Cabinet Office is considering options under this Act. This is rightly independent. 'While this process must run its course, further actions outside the debarments regime against those involved in this tragedy have not been ruled out.' Arconic have been contacted for comment. Responding to the inquiry report last year, the firm said it was its subsidiary, Arconic Architectural Products SAS (AAP), which had supplied the material used for cladding in the tower's refurbishment, and that it rejects 'any claim that AAP sold an unsafe product' and that it 'did not conceal information from or mislead any certification body, customer, or the public'. Kingspan said it had 'long acknowledged the wholly unacceptable historical failings that occurred in part of our UK insulation business' but said these were 'in no way reflective of how we conduct ourselves as a group, then or now'. Celotex said it had 'reviewed and improved process controls, quality management and the approach to marketing within the Celotex business to meet industry best practice'.
