LAST UPDATE | 6 Nov 2018

SIX MEN HAVE been arrested on suspicion of a public order offence in connection with an investigation into a video posted online that shows an effigy of Grenfell Tower being burned.

The Metropolitan Police said the men, aged 49, 19 ,46, 55 and 49, were arrested after they handed themselves in to a south London police station at 10pm yesterday. They have been taken into custody.

Seventy-two people died after a massive fire engulfed the London tower block in June 2017.

The video shows a group of people placing an effigy of the public housing block onto a bonfire before laughing and saying “jump out the window”, “help me, help me” and “that’s what happens when they don’t pay their rent”.

Commander Stuart Cundy, who is leading the investigation into the tower fire, said he is “appalled” by the video.

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.

The Justice4Grenfell campaign group released a statement saying: “This is clearly a hate crime and as a society we should never tolerate these types of blatant acts of hatred.”

Prime Minister Theresa May described the incident as “utterly unacceptable”.

The Grenfell United organisation for survivors and the bereaved, tweeted: “It’s a disgusting video.

“Not only is it extremely upsetting to survivors and people who lost family, it’s hateful and offensive to everyone that has been affected.”

Bonfires are traditional in Britain around November 5, recalling a foiled plot to blow up parliament in 1605. Effigies of plotter Guy Fawkes are burned on the fire.

With reporting from AFP