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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Samuel Osborne

Two women feared dead in Grenfell Tower were 'threatened with legal action' for raising alarm about fire safety

Two women feared dead in the Grenfell Tower tragedy were allegedly threatened with legal action after they campaigned for improved fire safety.

Mariem Elgwahry, 27, and mother-of-three Nadia Choucair, 33, reportedly received letters ordering them to stop their campaign for improved safety.

Both women were fighting the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation for building improvements, with help from the Radical Housing Network, The Mirror reports.

Pilgrim Tucker, who works for the group, told the paper: “The TMO’s response was to threaten tenants with legal action and send out letters. Nadia and Mariem would have received them too.

“They both just wanted to do their best for their neighbours and keep everyone safe. Things had got so bad they knew a disaster like this was inevitable, but if there was a chance of stopping it they were up for the fight. But no one listened and now this community is ­devastated. We have to get justice for them. The TMO treated tenants disgracefully and with disdain.

“They bullied them and persecuted those like Nadia and Mariem who were brave enough to speak out, branding them troublemakers.

“Their job was to listen to the tenants and make sure homes were safe and they didn’t do that. If they had then this would never have happened.”

He said Ms Elgwahry and Ms Choucair organised a petition and a protest outside the TMO's management offices.

KCTMO has said it is fully coopearting with investigations and could not comment on the alleged legal threats. 

The Independent has contacted KCTMO for comment.

Police have said at least 58 people died, or are missing, presumed dead, after fire ravaged the 24-storey tower in the early hours of Wednesday morning. 

Commander Stuart Cundy of the Metropolitan Police warned the death toll could rise further.

At 58 casualties, it would make the Grenfell Tower blaze the deadliest in the capital since the Second World War.

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