THE RESIDENT of the flat in which the Grenfell Tower fire started said yesterday that police wanted to place him in witness protection after “distorted” press reports.

Behailu Kebede gave a statement to the public inquiry through his lawyer, saying inaccurate media coverage had portrayed him “like a criminal who was to blame for the fire.” 

Police feared for Mr Kebede’s safety after false suggestions that he caused the fire by tampering with his fridge-freezer or that he had packed a bag before escaping were printed.