British Prime Minister Theresa May was rushed away under heavy police guard on Friday as protesters shouted "Shame on you" after she met residents who live near a tower block in London where at least 30 people died in a fire.
May, already under pressure after a botched snap election, is facing widespread criticism for her response to the blaze. She has promised to set up a public inquiry and pledged five million pounds (6.40 million US dollars) to help the victims.
Separately, hundreds of protesters stormed the local town hall chanting: "We want justice."
Demonstrators are confronted by police officers on a staircase after they entered Kensington Town Hall, during a protest over the slow response to the Grenfell Tower blaze on June 16, 2017. /VCG Photo
May has outlined a series of measures to help those left homeless by the devastating fire which engulfed the 24-storey apartment block on Wednesday.
But fury has grown in the local community at what people say is the slow response from authorities to the blaze and a failure to inform families and friends about the fate of loved ones.
Media reports have said about 70 people are expected to have been killed, although police have not confirmed this.
Local residents also say they are angry that their safety concerns had been ignored and that people had been told to stay in their flats in the event of a fire.
May, who on Thursday met emergency services at the fire site but did not meet locals, visited residents, volunteers and community leaders at a nearby church on Friday and was rushed away afterwards by police as an angry crowd outside shouted "Coward" and "You're not wanted."
A couple of miles away in west London, several hundred protesters stormed Kensington and Chelsea council town hall.
The protesters barged their way through an automatic door and sought to gain entry to an upper floor. Police barred their way and scuffles broke out, a Reuters reporter said.
Anger is growing over claims that a series of safety failings led to the Grenfell Tower disaster after it emerged contractors could have spent more money on fire-resistant cladding. /VCG Photo
The protesters chanted: "We want justice," "bring them out" and "shame on you." The protesters were angered when no one from the council came out to address their concerns, reporters said.
The local authority, which owns the tower block where families rent their homes, says it is doing all it can to support the victims and to help the relief operation.
It issued a statement before the protest to try to address the concerns of residents. "We entirely support the calling of the public inquiry and will cooperate in whatever way we can with it so that local people have all the answers about what has happened," the council, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, said.
(Source: Reuters)
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