Grenfell Tower Fire: Families Demand Justice After Inquiry Report

Hisam Choucair lost family members in the Grenfell Tower fire in West London and expressed his pain during a news conference following the release of the inquiry's final report. The inquiry blamed government and construction failings, delaying justice. Survivors demand criminal prosecutions for those responsible.

Hisam Choucair lost his sister, brother-in-law, and three young nieces in the Grenfell Tower fire in West London seven years ago.

Choucair held back tears at a news conference marking the release of the final report by a public inquiry into the tragedy that killed 72 people, including his loved ones. The inquiry panel blamed the disaster on failings by the government, the construction industry, and the firms involved in fitting the tower's exterior with flammable cladding.

Though Choucair thanked the inquiry for its findings and recommendations, he criticized it for delaying the justice his family deserved as it did not allow for criminal proceedings to begin. The Crown Prosecution Service does not expect to make any charging decisions until the end of 2026, potentially delaying trials until a decade after the blaze.

Survivor groups, including the Grenfell Next of Kin, demand criminal prosecutions for those responsible. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the report's release a 'long-awaited day of truth,' but some, like Shah Aghlani who lost family members, are pessimistic about significant criminal charges.

The issue of unsafe cladding continues to affect thousands of buildings, with remediation efforts lagging. Maryam Adam, a fire survivor, urges everyone to remember the 72 who died: 'I just want justice for them.'

(With inputs from agencies.)