British Prime Minister Theresa May was rushed away under heavy police cover Friday as protesters yelled “We want Justice” and “Shame on you” after meeting with local residents devastated by an apartment building fire that claimed at least 30 lives last Wednesday.
Authorities are being criticized for a slow response to the fire, and for not informing locals of the fate of their loved ones in a timely manner.
Locals say they are also angry that safety concerns were ignored in the building’s construction, and some residents of the building even report being told to stay in their flats in the case of a fire.
May, already under pressure after a controversial snap election, is facing widespread criticism for her response to the blaze. She has promised to set up a public inquiry and pledged 5 million pounds ($6.40 million) to help the victims.
A couple of miles away in west London, several hundred protesters stormed Kensington and Chelsea council town hall.
The protesters barged their way through an automatic door at and sought to gain entry to an upper floor. Police barred their way and scuffles broke out, a Reuters reporter said.
The protesters chanted: “We want justice”, “bring them out” and “shame on you”. The protesters were angered when no one from the council came out to address their concerns, reporters said.
The local authority, which owns the tower block where families rent their homes, says it is doing all it can to support the victims and to help the relief operation.
Queen Elizabeth, 91, and her grandson Prince William also visited residents and emergency workers on Friday.
“That’s one of the most terrible things I have ever seen,” William said of the tower’s blackened shell. Upon leaving, William promised some of the heartbroken residents that he would return.
Some desperate residents pleaded to speak to the queen and her grandson about their plight and the fate of missing children as they left the site, with William promising he would return.
While the remains of only 12 people have been removed from the building, media estimates put the number of those who perished in the fire at 70 people.
