Far-left activists in bid to hijack Grenfell

Relatives of Grenfell Tower victims yesterday accused far-Left rabble rousers of exploiting the disaster for political gain

Relatives of Grenfell Tower victims yesterday accused far-Left rabble rousers of exploiting the disaster for political gain.

They believe the self-appointed activists have no connection with those who are still grieving the loss of 71 lives in one of Britain’s worst fires.

Survivors have also distanced themselves from a militant group that claims the death toll was far higher. They say the disaster has become a magnet for fringe political groups with axes to grind.

A small group of demonstrators used the resumption of the Grenfell Inquiry to protest about a variety of different causes yesterday.

Several members of the Revolutionary Communist Group used it to campaign against the privatisation of social housing.

And a prominent group called Justice4Grenfell yesterday reiterated its belief that up to 200 people died in the fire – despite official figures to the contrary. The group, which claims to represent the interests of survivors and the bereaved, has been accused of treating the tower ‘like a piece of meat’.

Ahmed Chellat, 60, told the Mail: ‘I’ve lost members of my family, I lost my brother in law, his wife and their three children.

‘I started out being a community worker, I started out as someone who wanted justice. I wanted to find out why it happened and to prevent it from happening again.

‘But then I discovered that groups were going their different ways and now I’m fighting on my own for justice. It’s ridiculous, nobody is listening and there’s nothing we can do.’

The retired translator added: ‘I’m watching from afar, I’m not part of any group because they don’t have the ability to change. Even if they are part of the community they have no connection with what’s going on.’

Sid-Ali Atmani, who escaped from the 15th floor, told the Times he did not want to be associated with Justice4Grenfell. ‘That’s nothing to do with us,’ he said. ‘I don’t want somebody to fight for me. A lot of people are trying to make it political. It’s wrong. Please don’t use our name. We are dignified people.’

Edward Daffarn, 55, who lived on the 16th floor and wrote a blog predicting a catastrophic blaze, said: ‘This tragedy is being used as a focus for people discontented with lots of things and is also being used as a vehicle for other people who are discontented to pounce on. All this is an absolute disservice to everybody who perished in that fire and everybody who had to run away to avoid being burnt to death.’

A spokesman for Justice4Grenfell said the group had been refused permission to be a ‘core participant’ at the judge-led inquiry.

That status would have allowed it to see paperwork, make statements, question witnesses and apply for money for legal advice.

The group had angered locals by registering Justice4Grenfell on Companies House and on the internet five days after the fire. It has described inquiry judge Sir Martin Moore-Bick, 71, as a ‘social cleansing judge’ and ‘out of touch’. It has claimed the number of deaths was ‘considered by many in the local community to be closer to 200’.

Three months ago a spokesman said: ‘There is an increasing sense that a serious, concerted cover-up is going on.’

Survivors have also distanced themselves from a militant group that claims the death toll was far higher. They say the disaster has become a magnet for fringe political groups with axes to grind

Survivors have also distanced themselves from a militant group that claims the death toll was far higher. They say the disaster has become a magnet for fringe political groups with axes to grind

Last month police debunked conspiracy theories by announcing the official Grenfell death toll was 71. Commander Stuart Cundy said: ‘Why on earth would we want to be covering any of this up?’

The inferno, which started during the early hours of June 14 and spread up the 24-storey tower block in west London within minutes, was followed by angry protests and allegations of a cover-up.

Survivors have sidelined some of the hard-Left protesters by creating a WhatsApp messaging group called Grenfell United. 

Kensington and Chelsea council has given the group the use of one floor at a friends and family centre.

Grenfell families yesterday told the official inquiry they wanted it to focus on the decision by emergency workers to tell them to ‘stay put’ and await rescue.

A preliminary report has been delayed until autumn 2018 but lawyers for the bereaved and those left homeless yesterday urged Sir Martin to press ahead with hearing evidence as soon as possible.

Survivors say many of those killed could have escaped had they ignored the controversial advice to stay in their flats inside the burning block.

They have also threatened to boycott the public inquiry amid anger that Sir Martin has rejected calls to appoint advisers from the local community, or to widen the scope of his probe.

 The faces of those accused of fuelling anger on the streets

Moyra Samuels, a teacher who lives near Grenfell Tower, yesterday said she believed more people died than the official police figure of 71

Moyra Samuels, a teacher who lives near Grenfell Tower, yesterday said she believed more people died than the official police figure of 71

1: The Socialist Worker

One of the most vocal members of the Justice4Grenfell group is a long-serving activist with affiliation to the far-left Socialist Worker Party.

Moyra Samuels, a teacher who lives near Grenfell Tower, yesterday said she believed more people died than the official police figure of 71.

The 61-year-old activist told Sky News: ‘It is not just me but there are others from a range of backgrounds including priests in the area who actually believe the numbers are higher, but it’s very difficult for us to actually challenge that.

‘We struggled to actually get from the council who they had on their list officially living there. We also know that it was Ramadan at the time so people were visiting. We believe that actually there may well not be remains of a lot of people and I think that’s what the community believe on the ground.’

Ishmahil Blagrove became the darling of the anti-media radicals when a video of him ranting at a reporter in the shadow of the gutted building went viral on Facebook. In the clip, he says ¿f*** the media¿ and calls for a revolution

Ishmahil Blagrove became the darling of the anti-media radicals when a video of him ranting at a reporter in the shadow of the gutted building went viral on Facebook. In the clip, he says ‘f*** the media’ and calls for a revolution

2: The Rabble Rouser

A veteran rabble rouser was at the centre of the dissent stirred up after the Grenfell fire.

Ishmahil Blagrove became the darling of the anti-media radicals when a video of him ranting at a reporter in the shadow of the gutted building went viral on Facebook. In the clip, he says ‘f*** the media’ and calls for a revolution.

Mr Blagrove, 49, said ‘sometimes all it takes is a spark’ as he highlighted the 2011 riots that swept Britain.

‘I’m already hearing messages of people mobilising, of police intercepting messages on Facebook,’ he said. ‘We saw what could happen in this country in 2011, over the shooting of Mark Duggan. There are real issues in the underbelly of society that frustrate people.’

He launched Justice4Grenfell with a speech warning: ‘You know me and when I’m ready to start a fire I’ll start a fire.’

He added that ‘if we burn down anywhere’ it might be Chelsea.

3: The Antisemite

An activist who runs a volunteer network for survivors claims Grenfell victims were ‘burnt alive in a Jewish sacrifice’.

Tahra Ahmed said the inferno was a ¿holocaust¿ at a town hall protest two days after the disaster. The 47-year-old has gained prominence as a Grenfell volunteer by running workshops for those affected by the tragedy

Tahra Ahmed said the inferno was a ‘holocaust’ at a town hall protest two days after the disaster. The 47-year-old has gained prominence as a Grenfell volunteer by running workshops for those affected by the tragedy

Tahra Ahmed said the inferno was a ‘holocaust’ at a town hall protest two days after the disaster. The 47-year-old has gained prominence as a Grenfell volunteer by running workshops for those affected by the tragedy.

But she has repeatedly made antisemitic outbursts and has claimed that the 9/11 terror attack was faked by Jews. Miss Ahmed, who lives in London, has previously described Hitler’s massacre of Jews as the ‘holohoax’.

And in a previous comments, the activist has said: ‘Grenfell is owned by a private Jewish property developer just like the Twin Towers. I wonder how much Goldman [Sachs] is standing to make in the world’s most expensive real estate location, [Kensington].’

Goldman Sachs has had no involvement in the disaster apart from donating 100 boxes of children’s clothing and books, helping former residents get access to technology and matching employees’ appeal donations.

Mark Gardner, of the Community Security Trust, which monitors antisemitism, told The Times: ‘To describe the appalling Grenfell Tower disaster as a Jewish sacrifice is to reach a new depth of grotesque antisemitic racism.’

Controversial trade unionist Cathy Cross has been a vocal and often disruptive presence at Grenfell Tower meetings

Controversial trade unionist Cathy Cross has been a vocal and often disruptive presence at Grenfell Tower meetings

4: The Trade Unionist

Controversial trade unionist Cathy Cross has been a vocal and often disruptive presence at Grenfell Tower meetings.

Despite living outside the borough, she heckled the new leader of Kensington & Chelsea council at the latest meeting. As Elizabeth Campbell was making an opening address, Miss Cross, 54, shouted: ‘You have blood on your hands.’

Miss Cross is the national campaigns officer for the Public and Commercial Services Union. 

She was invited by shadow chancellor John McDonnell to speak at a fringe event on ‘tax justice’ at this year’s Labour conference.

She has previously referred to herself as a rabble rouser and posted about having a ‘Trot tendency’ on social media.

5: The Diversity Expert

A former diversity manager at the BBC has accused the authorities of covering up the true number of Grenfell victims.

Sue Caro, 60, who was a member of Justice4Grenfell until recently, believes up to 200 people died in the inferno

Sue Caro, 60, who was a member of Justice4Grenfell until recently, believes up to 200 people died in the inferno

Sue Caro, 60, who was a member of Justice4Grenfell until recently, believes up to 200 people died in the inferno.

She continues to hold this view – despite Scotland Yard stating last month that the official death toll was 71.

Miss Caro, who was born in Macclesfield and now lives in Harlesden in north-west London, told The Times yesterday: ‘People on the ground were told by the firefighters that they had recovered close to 200 bodies already.

‘I don’t believe they are being honest about how many people have died and that that is for political reasons.’

Asked who ‘they’ were, Miss Caro said: ‘The authorities.’

6: The Disability Activist

Kerdesan Gallardo protested outside the Grenfell Inquiry yesterday morning with the Revolutionary Communist Group. 

Kerdesan Gallardo protested outside the Grenfell Inquiry yesterday morning with the Revolutionary Communist Group

Kerdesan Gallardo protested outside the Grenfell Inquiry yesterday morning with the Revolutionary Communist Group

The disability rights activist also marches with Justice4Grenfell.

The mother-of-two said yesterday the Revolutionary Communist Group were ‘supporting and helping the survivors’ of Grenfell. 

Mrs Gallardo said: ‘I watched the fire from a building across and this is not acceptable. 

‘People, human beings, perished in that fire. It’s been six months and they’re being forgotten.

‘People haven’t been rehoused, there are 200 properties empty right next to us, but they kept it for their investment.’

The Revolutionary Communist Group has taken part in protests against Israel and in support of travellers.

 



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