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Catastrophe

UK festival pays homage to Grenfell Tower victims

August 27, 2017

Local officials and residents have released white doves to commemorate the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire. London's mayor has vowed justice for the victims, saying those responsible will be "held to account."

https://p.dw.com/p/2ivfJ
Notting Hill Karneval in London
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Y.Mok

Londoners paid tribute to the victims of a deadly fire at a massive public housing building in the center of the UK's capital city as thousands descended on Notting Hill for Europe's largest street festival on Sunday.

In June, a fire at the Grenfell Tower left 80 people dead, dozens more injured and hundreds homeless. The tragic incident occurred less than a kilometer away from the route of the Notting Hill Carnival procession.

Read more: Grenfell disaster highlights UK's infrastructure problems

London Mayor Sadiq Khan and members of the local community released dozens of white doves to commemorate the lives lost in the blaze.

"We all know this carnival takes place in a context of sadness and sorrow. So this carnival weekend, we honor the victims. Over this carnival weekend, we pledge to redouble our efforts to support this community," said Khan.

"Part of that pledge is making sure we get justice, we find out exactly what happened, we make sure those responsible are held to account, and also so this never, ever, ever happens again."

Preventable tragedy?

Last Wednesday, British Prime Minister Theresa May met with residents who survived the fire, saying she had a "dignified and very respectful" discussion with them.

Many former residents of Grenfell Tower have lashed out at authorities for the tragic incident after local committees warned of the possibility of such an event well before June.

The annual festival celebrates Afro-Caribbean culture in the UK and draws hundreds of thousands of people to London's Notting Hill district.

Dancers participate in the Notting Hill Carnival
Carnival dancers parade down the streets of Notting Hill in London for the world's second-largest street festivalImage: picture-alliance/dpa

ls/rc (AFP, Reuters)