Service of remembrance for 72 killed in Grenfell fire tragedy held in London

By Karim El-Bar

LONDON (AA) - A service of remembrance and a 72-second silence were observed on Tuesday to mark the fifth anniversary of the Grenfell Fire, a tragedy in which 72 people were killed in a housing tower fire.

The incident took place on June 14, 2017, and saw 72 people die in a housing tower used mainly by working-class and minority ethnic people located in one of London’s richest neighborhoods.

The service of remembrance was held at Westminster Abbey in central London, and the 72-second moment of silence was held at Westfield shopping center, close to the location of the housing block.

The names of the 72 victims were read out loud both at Westminster Abbey as well as the Westfield shopping center.

The Westminster Abbey service was attended by Theresa May, who was prime minister at the time of the tragedy, and London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

This evening, a second vigil will take place outside the tower block.

The tower block, which still stands but whose charred exterior has been covered, will be lit in green, the color used by victims’ families to remember their lost ones.

A silent walk that takes place every year in commemoration of the tragedy will also take place this year, with firefighters forming a guard of honor.

Half a decade after the tragedy, justice has yet to be done, with victims’ families still campaigning for accountability and reform.

Victims’ families have called for the recommendations of a public inquiry to be implemented, as well as criminal prosecutions against those responsible.