UK

Grenfell Tower fire: Theresa May promises 'proper investigation'

Firefighters spray water after a fire engulfed the 24-storey Grenfell Tower in west London. Picture by Victoria Jones, Press Association
Firefighters spray water after a fire engulfed the 24-storey Grenfell Tower in west London. Picture by Victoria Jones, Press Association Firefighters spray water after a fire engulfed the 24-storey Grenfell Tower in west London. Picture by Victoria Jones, Press Association

A "proper investigation" will be held following the Grenfell Tower fire in which 12 people were killed and many more were feared dead, British Prime Minister Theresa May has said.

A total of 18 people were critically ill last night after flames tore through the block of flats in west London in the early hours of yesterday.

Hundreds of firefighters tackled the blaze, rescuing 65 people, but more than 70 have been left in hospital.

Mrs May paid tribute to the efforts of the emergency services and said support should be given to the hundreds affected by the fire.

Speaking from Downing Street she said: "There are people tonight who have no home to go to, they have lost absolutely everything, so our focus must be on support to them".

"In due course, when the scene is secure, when it's possible to identify the cause of this fire, then of course there will be proper investigation and if there are any lessons to be learnt they will be, and action will be taken," she said.

Mrs May said it was "impossible to comprehend the horror" of what the victims of the fire have gone through.

The tragedy comes little more than a week after Londoners stood defiant in the wake of the London Bridge terror attack, and Mrs May applauded the "incredible bravery" of the emergency services and the reaction of those who helped those caught up in the fire.

"The response of people living nearby who provided help, compassion and support has I think once again shown the fantastic spirit of London," she said.