Advertisement

First victim of Grenfell fire named as Syrian refugee Mohammad Alhajali

A Syrian refugee who came to London in search of ‘a better life’ has been named as the first victim of the Grenfell Tower fire.

Mohammad Alhajal’s devastated friends said the the UK had ‘failed him’

The 23-year-old was studying civil engineering at the University of the West of London.

Mohammad’s brother Omar, 25, survived the blaze that tore through the West London high rise.

He is reportedly recovering in hospital.

Read more about the Grenfall Tower fire

Fire death toll set to rise as grim search for victims continues
Firefighters praised after sick lies spread that it ‘took them two hours to arrive’
Kind-hearted strangers raise more than £1 million for victims of Grenfell Tower blaze
Man arrested after ‘taking pictures of the dead’ at Grenfell tower block
Devastated Grenfell Tower resident claims fire was caused by his fridge exploding

Mohammad attempted to escape his flat on the 14th floor, but was overwhelmed by smoke as he went down the stairs and was forced to go back to the apartment.

He was trapped there for two hours, and made phonecalls to his friends and family in Syria to say goodbye.

The two brothers fled Syria three years ago and were granted asylum in the UK.

The devastating fire that broke out in the tower has killed at least 17 people, with that number expected to rise.

Emergency services are today trawling through the wreckage, with no survivors expected to be found.