A British government probe into the country's
deadliest residential blaze since World War Two concluded that the deaths from the Grenfell Tower
fire were the result of incompetence and greed. Here's the head of the inquiry, Martin Moore-Bick. "The simple truth is that the deaths that
occurred were all avoidable, and those who lived in the tower were badly failed over a
number of years and in a number of different ways by those who were responsible for ensuring
the safety of the building and its occupants." The report released on Wednesday (September 4)
comes more than seven years after 72 people died when flames ripped through the 23-story social
housing block in one of London's richest areas. Prime Minister Keir Starmer apologized to
the relatives of victims and survivors, saying they had been failed for
years and action was being taken. "So I can tell the House today that this
government will write to all companies found by the inquiry to be part of these horrific
failings as the first step to stopping them being awarded government contracts.
And we will, of course, support the Metropolitan Police and the prosecutors
as they complete their investigations." The 1,700 page report said the inferno,
started by an electrical fault in a refrigerator, was the culmination
of profits being put before people. Namely by the companies and
authorities involved in the maintenance and refit of the apartment tower. Flames spread uncontrollably because the
tower had been covered with cladding made of flammable material that acted as a fuel source. Some companies are accused
of dishonestly marketing the materials as safe - claims those companies deny. British police have said 58 people and 19 firms
and organizations are under investigation. But prosecutions - including for corporate
manslaughter and fraud - remain years away because of the complexity and need
to consider the inquiry's report. At a forum for survivors and relatives of the
disaster, many said they are yet to see justice. Hisam Choucair lost his mother, sister,
her husband and their children in the fire. "This inquiry was forced on us. We had no
say. We were not consulted. And like I say, to some it gives answers. And to some
it doesn't do anything except it's put that extra nail in the coffin,
as they say, or in the hearts." Government figures from July
showed over 3000 buildings standing at 11 meters or higher in
Britain still had unsafe cladding, with remediation work yet to start
on more than two-thirds of them.