Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Craig Mackey said the ‘extraordinary size’ of the scene compared to New York’s World Trade Center collapse in 2001
GRENFELL investigators have called in 9/11 experts from New York to help comb through debris following the disaster, police have revealed.
Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Craig Mackey said 200 officers would be “sifting” 15 tonnes of material – including victims’ remains – “until Christmas time”.
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Getty Images
It came as the latest victim – 68-year-old Marjorie Vital – was identified.
The pensioner lived on the 19th floor with her son Ernie, who is yet to be found.
Mr Mackey said the “extraordinary size” of the scene meant the only expert help that could be found was from investigators had experience of the World Trade Center collapse in 2001.
He went on: “Without wanting to be too graphic, the fire in some parts of the building burned at over 1,000 degrees for a considerable period of time.
“So we are now working through, floor-by-floor, and it is literally a case of sifting and working through the debris – sadly, the remains – to try and desperately identify parts of people so we can reunite them.”
Communities secretary Sajid Javid revealed that seven tower blocks landlords have so far refused to send in cladding samples for testing following the disaster.
EPA
PA:Press Association
The Cabinet minister branded it “unacceptable” as he prepared to name and shame the housing associations involved.
He also announced new fire testing for cladding to work out how different systems of panels work in a fire.
PA:Press Association
PA:Press Association
He said: “The Building Research Establishment (BRE) has yet to see samples from seven towers, all of them managed by housing associations.
“A month after the tests began this is simply unacceptable and I expect to see them all submitting samples without any further delay.”
Mr Javid said he was “horrified” to hear some housing associations had still not sent cladding samples for testing.
He added: “Perhaps the time has come for naming and shaming.”
He told MPs Grenfell survivors had been given “at least one” offer of accommodation with permanent homes becoming ready within days.
Around 35 people had accepted with ten families moving into new homes.
The latest figures from the Department for Communities and Local Government show cladding from 263 high-rise residential buildings in 57 local authority areas have failed combustibility tests.
These include a combined school and residential building, while additional samples from seven buildings at six NHS Trusts and another school also failed.