GRENFELL residents and campaigners have condemned the Metropolitan Police’s “Islamophobic and racist” assessment following the deadly blaze in 2017.

A Kensington and Chelsea police report four days after the fire was read out to the inquiry last week, with the force warning that
further disclosures about the incident risked “community tensions,” particularly because of the “Muslim cultural background” of those affected. 

“With the cause unknown, any subsequent disclosure would have an impact on community tensions, especially when the majority of those affected are believed to be from a Muslim cultural background — combined with the incident occurring during the holy month of Ramadan,” the Grenfell Community Impact Assessment stated.

The Grenfell United group, made up of families and survivors of the fire, condemned the Met’s assessment as Islamophobic and questioned their priorities in the aftermath of the fire. 

The group said at the time they were most vulnerable following the incident, armed police were posted outside rest centres where they had to go for support and to search for their loved ones. “We were threatened with arrest by police officers. We were violated, dehumanised,” they said.

“This is Islamophobia at its finest. We are disgusted, horrified. We are angry,” the group said.

Stand up to Racism co-convener Weyman Bennett told the Morning Star yesterday: “Instead of showing sympathy and concern for the loss of such precious lives the police continue to focus on Islamophobia and racism.”

Anti-racism campaigner Zita Holbourne said: “The Met Police are already in special measures. This adds to the long list of their racist, misogynistic and other discriminatory attitudes.”