Publication of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s first report

The publication of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry's first report has been delayed until October - a decision blasted today by victims' families as 'disgraceful'.

Core participants, including survivors and those who lost relatives in the deadly blaze in West London in June 2017, were expecting it would be released this spring.

But in a letter they were told today that writing the report 'has proved to be a far more complex and time-consuming task than the inquiry had originally anticipated'.

The fire at Grenfell Tower in North Kensington, West London, resulted in the death of 72 people

The fire at Grenfell Tower in North Kensington, West London, resulted in the death of 72 people

It said: 'The chairman will be in a position to write to the Prime Minister with his final report after the parliamentary recess, for publication most likely in October.'

The report follows the first phase of the inquiry, which is limited to what happened on the night of June 14, 2017 when fire ripped through the tower block.

The huge blaze at the building in North Kensington resulted in the death of 72 people. More than than 70 others were injured and 223 people escaped.

Caroline Featherstone, solicitor to the inquiry, said in the letter that plans for the second phase are continuing and it is still due to go ahead in January 2020.

Natasha Elcock, chairman of Grenfell United, the group for survivors and bereaved families, said: 'It's disgraceful the inquiry have underestimated the complexity of the evidence that was produced in Phase 1 and have further delayed the report until autumn.

More than than 70 others were injured and 223 people escaped in the blaze in June 2017

More than than 70 others were injured and 223 people escaped in the blaze in June 2017

'That we are only finding this out now, when we were expecting the report to be published ahead of the two-year anniversary. Shows how they continue to disregard survivors and bereaved through this process.'

Grenfell inquiry failed us, say angry families 

Angry survivors and grieving families from Grenfell Tower accused the public inquiry into the tragedy of 'failing to deliver' earlier this month.

Lawyers said families had lost faith in the multi-million-pound inquiry after many delays, and felt it had shown 'a total lack of respect' for the 72 people killed in the tragedy.

An interim report was expected in spring but has not been delivered and the inquiry's second phase is not scheduled until next year. Criminal charges are unlikely until 2021.

Lawyers representing about 90 people have written to inquiry chairman Sir

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