![\"epa11878680](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_238792226-8c16.jpg\")
\n\t\t72 people died in the tower fire in 2017 (Picture: EPA)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\t72 people died in the tower fire in 2017 (Picture: EPA)<\/p>\n
Grenfell\u00a0family members and survivors have gathered together, nine years on from the fatal fire, to mark its final anniversary before the tower block is completely demolished.<\/p>\n
72 people died in the fire on June 14, 2017, caused by an electrical fault on one of the fourth-floor flats which then spread to the building\u2019s outside cladding.<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s gathering comes after police and prosecutors announced last month that up to 20 companies and 57 individuals could face criminal charges over the blaze.<\/p>\n
Decisions will be made on whether any charges will be brought before next year\u2019s 10th anniversary, the Metropolitan Police<\/a> said.<\/p>\n Potential offences under consideration include corporate gross negligence manslaughter, fraud, health<\/a> and safety breaches, and misconduct in public office.<\/p>\n Grenfell\u00a0survivor Edward Daffarn said that while the update was encouraging, the continued \u2018wait for justice is torturous\u2019. \u2018Tt\u2019s an old expression, but justice delayed is justice denied,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n A church service will take place on Sunday afternoon, with the annual silent walk in west London<\/a> in the evening, followed by the reading of the names of the 72 dead, and speeches by campaigners.<\/p>\n \t\t The fire in was found by a public inquiry to have been avoidable, having been preceded by \u2018decades of failure\u2019 by governments and the building industry to act on the dangers of flammable materials on high-rise buildings.<\/p>\n The inquiry\u2019s final report in 2024 found that victims, their loved ones and survivors were \u2018badly failed\u2019 through incompetence, dishonesty and greed.<\/p>\n The failures were blamed on the \u2018systematic dishonesty\u2019 of firms which made and sold the cladding and insulation.<\/p>\n Inquiry chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick condemned the \u2018deliberate and sustained\u2019 manipulation of fire safety testing, misrepresentation of test data and misleading of the market.<\/p>\n He told the Press Association: \u2018It\u2019s encouraging that we have a timeline now where there is a chance of these criminal prosecutions happening, which is absolutely essential.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tLatest London news\t\t\t<\/p>\n To get the latest news from the capital, visit Metro’s London news hub<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t Grenfell\u00a0United, which represents many of the bereaved and survivors, has asked people to join Sunday\u2019s walk \u2018in solidarity to remember those we lost, and demand justice\u2019, noting that it is \u2018the last anniversary with any part of\u00a0Grenfell\u00a0Tower remaining\u2019.<\/p>\n \u2018This is the first year that bereaved and survivors are not going to be able to visit the tower to lay flowers and pay our condolences,\u2019 Mr Moore-Bick said.<\/p>\n \u2018We don\u2019t know exactly what the site is going to look like (next year on the 10th anniversary), so people are having to find different ways to remember.\u2019<\/p>\n The process of bringing the tower down began in September last year, and the government said at that point that it was expected to take around two years to be completed.<\/p>\n News of the government\u2019s demolition decision last year was met with criticism from some bereaved and survivors who expressed their upset and shock, saying they felt they had not had their views considered before the decision was taken.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Grenfell\u00a0Tower Memorial Commission has been consulting on plans for a permanent memorial in the area of the tower, with the Design team Freehaus chosen last year to create a memorial with bereaved and survivor families, as well as the local community.<\/p>\n An MHCLG spokesperson said: \u2018As we approach the ninth anniversary of the\u00a0Grenfell\u00a0Tower tragedy, our thoughts are with the bereaved, survivors and all those affected.<\/p>\n \u2018We remember the 72 people who lost their lives, and are committed to ensuring that what happened at the tower is not forgotten, and never happens again.\u2019<\/p>\n Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n For more stories like this, check our news page<\/a>.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_239212111-7df9.jpg\")
\n\t\tA small memorial below the tower will be replaced with a more permanent one (Picture: PA)<\/p>\n![\"LONDON,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_255586276-f266.jpg\")
\n\t\tSurvivors thank local firefighters each year (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
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