Families of Grenfell Tower victims have accused the government of trying to "erase the voices" of the tragedy after a request to preserve a staircase wall marked with residents' handprints was denied. Relatives are now seeking legal action to challenge the decision, claiming earlier assurances that parts of the tower would be kept for a future memorial are being broken.
The handprints were discovered during a final visit to the tower in July 2025, after an invitation from then-housing secretary Angela Rayner. Distinct marks were found on community stairwell walls between floors 12 and 14, along with the words "Allah Akbar" (God is Great) written in Arabic between floors 17 and 18. An immediate request to preserve the markings was denied.
Karim Khalloufi, whose sister Khadija Khalloufi died in the 2017 fire, said families had been forced to act to protect sections of the wall that "hold the voices of that night." He stated: "The handprints on Grenfell's stairwells are not just marks—they are the story of that night: fear, loss, grief, hope, and the fight for survival. To destroy these elements is to erase history, memory, and proof of what happened."
Shah Aghlani, who lost his mother and aunt in the fire, added: "Anything that means something to us—anything that holds truth or carries emotion—they want to get rid of. From the very beginning, they didn't want us to be heard. Now they don't want us to be seen or heard."
In February 2024, Angela Rayner said she would ensure "parts of the Tower or materials from the site" would be retained for inclusion in a memorial if the community wished. However, in September 2024, ten days after Rayner resigned, families were told no materials above the ninth floor would be kept, with a senior official citing "the sensitivity of the upper floors and the lives lost." Lawyers for the Khalloufi family said the decision caused "significant distress" and demonstrated "a clear disregard for the assurances previously given."
