Shropshire Star

Emergency services and royals joined members of the public in an emotional minute's silence for Grenfell Tower victims

The nation paid their respects to the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire.

Published

People around the country fell silent at 11am to remember those affected by the devastating fire which engulfed Grenfell Tower last Wednesday.

Shortly before the minute’s silence, police announced that the death toll from the north Kensington disaster had risen to 79 victims.

Firefighters observe a minute's silence near Grenfell Tower (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
Firefighters observe a minute’s silence near Grenfell Tower (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

Outpourings of emotion were captured by photographers as people observed the remembrance, including firefighters who shed tears and hugged their colleagues and members of the public in support.

A firefighter and a man embrace at the Latymer Community Centre (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
A firefighter and a man embrace at the Latymer Community Centre (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
Dominic Lipinski/PA
Dominic Lipinski/PA
A firefighter looks at the floral tributes left by the Latymer Community Centre near Grenfell Tower (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
A firefighter looks at the floral tributes left by the Latymer Community Centre near Grenfell Tower (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn tweeted of the resolve to ensure the fire is “the last tragedy of its kind” in Britain:

People observe a minute's silence near Grenfell Tower (Jonathan Brady/PA) Wire
People observe a minute’s silence near Grenfell Tower (Jonathan Brady/PA) Wire

The Queen, who visited those affected by the blaze last week with the Duke of Cambridge, stood silent alongside her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, who has scaled back his public engagements ahead of his retirement later this year.

A woman appears emotional after a minute's silence (Jonathan Brady/PA)
A woman appears emotional after a minute’s silence (Jonathan Brady/PA)
Members of the emergency services gather (Jonathan Brady/PA)
Members of the emergency services gather (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon observed the silence during a visit to the University of Strathclyde.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in Glasgow (Jane Barlow/PA)
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in Glasgow (Jane Barlow/PA)

Fire crews around the country paid their respects, including in the North East and in Yorkshire.

Cricketers at Old Trafford stood silent.

Cricketers pay respects (Martin Rickett/PA)
Cricketers pay respects (Martin Rickett/PA)

The Lord Mayor of Nottingham thanked the fire services and paid tribute to those affected, saying: “For all those killed, we express our sorrow”.

Out of 79 victims, five have been formally identified. The rest are missing and presumed dead, police said.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.