Grenfell Tower in the UK, “The Deadly Fire in 2017”, demolished | Government News
Some relatives of fire victims who wanted to keep the site said they felt “ignored” by the government.
The British government chose to demolish the Glenfel Building in London, where 72 people died in the 2017 fire, according to a group representing relatives of the deceased.
Advocacy group Grenfell said in a statement that Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner confirmed the news to a group of survivors and relatives on Wednesday.
London Standard reported that the government is expected to officially announce it on Friday.
Plans to demolish the tower have angered some family members who hope it will stay up late until criminal charges were committed that resulted in the failure of the fire, or were preserved as a memorial.
“Angela Rayner couldn’t give her reason for deciding to demolish the tower,” said Grenfell United, a separate group representing relatives of the fire victims.
“She refused to confirm how many bereavement and survivors were in the recent four-week consultation,” the group said. “However, from the room, the vast majority were buried – no one supported her decision.”
It added: “It is shameful and unforgivable to ignore the future of the cemetery of our loved ones.”
Statement after Angela Rayner's decision to remove Glenfelta pic.twitter.com/9jib8fdnpa
– Grenfell United (@grenfellunited) February 5, 2025
Next Grenfell acknowledged that the tower was structurally damaged, “it could not be supported indefinitely due to safety issues.
“We want to discuss facts – structural issues that inform this decision,” said Grenfell of Grenfell Sextial. “We want to discuss what happens to the tower where it is.”
Earlier, the government said it would not change the location until the eighth anniversary of the tragedy on June 14, which should be “carefully”.
A public investigation of the fires for six years found that disasters were caused by “decades of failures” that put profits before safety.
The report of the investigation, released last September, highlighted the failures of consecutive British governments, local council leaders, fire departments and companies involved in flammable cladding and insulation, which allowed the fire to spread rapidly.
Uncle Karim Mussilhy, 38, died on the top floor of Grenfelta, told Al Jazeera that the community “failed in every way…before the fire, the middle and After that, the government, the company, the locals, the locals all failed the authorities, the police, everyone failed.”