Readers like you keep news free for everyone.
More than 5,000 readers have already pitched in to keep free access to The Journal.
For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can help keep paywalls away.
# hate crime
Investigation launched into 'vile' Grenfell Tower effigy video
Footage of a group of people laughing while a model of the tragic tower burns has gone viral.
LONDON’S METROPOLITAN POLICE are investigating an “appalling” video showing a model of Grenfell Tower being burned on a bonfire.
The video shows a group of people placing an effigy of the public housing bloc, where dozens of people were killed in an inferno last June, onto a bonfire.
An England flag can be seen in the background as several people can be heard laughing and joking while the model goes up in flames.
The effigy featured cutouts of people trapped inside the doomed building and even one person dangling from the roof.
One person says “jump out the window” while others shout “help me, help me”. Another man can be heard saying “that’s what happens when they don’t pay their rent”.
Commander Stuart Cundy, who is leading the investigation into the tower fire, said: “I am frankly appalled by the callous nature of the video posted online. A total of 71 people died in the fire at Grenfell Tower, so many people lost so many loved ones, and many more have been deeply affected. To mock that disaster in such a crude way is vile.
I can’t imagine the distress this video will undoubtedly cause to bereaved families and survivors.
He added that the Met’s Grenfell Tower investigation team is taking the matter very seriously and any offences that have been committed will be fully investigated.
The Justice4Grenfell campaign group released a statement branding the video an “act of hate”.
“This is clearly a hate crime and as a society we should never tolerate these types of blatant acts of hatred,” it said.
The UK’s Home Secretary Sajid Javid also condemned the video, calling it “disgusting, shameful, behaviour”.
