Grenfell Tower Inquiry Blames Government and Firms for 2017 Blaze

The 2017 Grenfell Tower fire in London, which killed 72 people, has been blamed on government incompetence and corporate dishonesty. An inquiry criticized regulatory and industry failures, particularly firms involved in the building's cladding. Survivors call for criminal charges against those responsible, but prosecutions may take years.

An inquiry into the devastating 2017 Grenfell Tower blaze has held the government and construction industry largely accountable for the disaster. The fire, which claimed 72 lives, was said to have been fueled by flammable cladding fitted during a refurbishment.

Inquiry chair Martin Moore-Bick emphasized that the deaths were avoidable, blaming companies involved in the tower's refit and local and national authorities for their incompetence and dishonesty. Survivors and families of the victims demand criminal charges, but legal actions remain distant due to the complexity of the case.

Earlier findings revealed an electrical fault in a refrigerator started the fire, which spread rapidly due to the combustible cladding. The inquiry criticized architects, contractors, and fire safety inspectors, as well as the local council and tenant management organizations, for their roles in the tragedy.

(With inputs from agencies.)