Grenfell Tower estate resident slams 'spectators' visiting London fire site for 'a day out'

Peaky Saku being interviewed by the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire
BBC
Chris Baynes16 June 2017

A neighbour of Grenfell Tower has criticised "spectators" who came look at the blackened shell of the 24-storey building in which dozens are thought to have died.

Musician Peaky Saku, who lives close to the tower block on Notting Hill's Ladbroke West estate, said some people were "treating it almost like a day out".

He said he was "so grateful" to people across London who travelled to the estate to donate food and clothes to the victims in the aftermath of the disaster.

But speaking to Buzzfeed News, he added: "I do feel like there's a certain point when, situations like these, there's an excitement to it, there's a story, and everyone is happy to be here and be around with all the cameras around. People were treating it almost like a day out."

"People were coming here just to chill in the sun and spectate like a nice little bonfire or something. And that's not what it's like for the people here.

"When all the news cameras are gone and all the police are gone we've got to stay here and look at that building and help the people that are homeless."

At least 17 people are confirmed to have died in the blaze, with more than 60 still missing.

Volunteers have set up refuge centres for victims across the estate, with some receiving so many donations they were forced to turn away offerings on Thursday.

Theresa May has ordered a judge-led public inquiry into the disaster, with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn demanding "the truth has got to come out" over safety failings.