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[Image: A dark-haired man in a blue and red checked shirt looking at the camera]

Part 2 of a series of posts honoring the Grenfell Tower victims.

Mohammed Alhajali, from the 14th floor of Grenfell Tower

Mohammed Alhajali, 23, was a Syrian refugee and civil engineering student who lived at Grenfell with his brother Omar. Omar made it out alive, but Mohammed sadly did not. He jumped from the tower and died, reports said. He was the first Grenfell Tower victim to be named by the media.

Abdulaziz Almashi, Mohammed’s friend and a co-founder of the
Syria Solidarity Campaign, spoke of his anger at his loss. “He survived Assad, he survived the war, only to be killed in a tower block in London,” he said, describing Mohammed as “kind, charitable and full of passion for his family.” Reportedly, Mohammed tried to contact his family in Syria while trapped by the fire, but couldn’t get through.

A petition was circulated demanding that Mohammad’s family be allowed into the UK for his funeral. It gained 90,000 signatures, and thankfully his funeral was able to take place with his family present. There, a family friend read out a statement:

“He was a loving and caring person, always showing support and solidarity for friends and family stuck back in Syria. His very last words to us were how much he missed us. Ever since he moved away from us, we tried to be united with him and his brothers, and now, instead, we have been united by his body.”

The Syria Solidarity Campaign, which Mohammad worked for, condemned
the conditions which led to his death:

“Mohammed undertook a dangerous journey to flee war and death in Syria, only to meet it here in the UK, in his own home. Mohammed came to this country for safety and the UK failed to protect him. We absolutely agree that a thorough investigation into building regulations should take place immediately.”

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Sources

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jun/28/baby-found-dead-mothers-arms-grenfell-tower

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/grenfell-tower-fire-first-victim-named-mohammed-alhajali-syrian-refugee-a7791401.html

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40294616

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/first-grenfell-tower-funeral-fire-syrian-refugee-mohammed-alhajali-east-london-a7801836.html

https://news.sky.com/story/first-tower-fire-victim-named-as-syrian-refugee-mohammed-alhajali-10916706