250 Detectives Battle On As Grenfell Tower Recovery Rumbles Into 2018
More than 250 specialist officers remain locked in a painstaking investigation following the horrific Grenfell Tower blaze on 14 June. Last night, grieving families met with key Met Police figures and Senior Coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox for crucial updates on the search for victims, recovery efforts, and forensic inquiries into what sparked the fire.
Search & Recovery: A Gruelling Mission
Commander Stuart Cundy, leading the Met’s response, revealed the grim reality inside the charred tower. “On Monday, we recovered the last visible human remains. In total, we have made 87 recoveries — but this does not equate to 87 individuals,” he said.
Only 21 victims have been formally identified so far, with families informed. The brutal scale of the fire means some remains might never be found or identified.
Specialist officers, aided by expert anthropologists, are now painstakingly sifting through roughly 15.5 tonnes of debris per floor. This hand search of each flat is expected to take months — but the team is determined to uncover every last trace.
Call for Witnesses and Missing Persons
Despite speaking to residents from 106 of the 129 flats, detectives remain unable to trace anyone from 23 flats, presuming occupants are dead or missing. The Met urgently appeals to anyone with information about who was in Grenfell on the night — whether residents or visitors — to come forward.
“I don’t want there to be any hidden victims of this tragedy,” said Commander Cundy. “If you know someone missing from Grenfell Tower, tell us. It doesn’t matter why you delayed—what matters is getting answers.”
The Investigation Into How It Started
The Met continues one of its biggest and most complex investigations ever to determine how and why the fire ignited with such deadly force. Detectives are appealing for anyone with images or videos of the tower’s fire safety measures prior to the blaze to assist the probe.
- Call: 0800 032 4539
- Email: [email protected]
- Upload material: ukpoliceimageappeal.co.uk
The grim operation will continue seven days a week as the hunt for truth and justice for Grenfell’s victims presses on.
