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Grenfell Tower fire: Eleven-year-old Fatima Choucair latest victim to be identified from dental records

Inquests heard both Fatima Choucair and 12-year-old Firdows Hashim died from causes 'consistent with the effects of fire'

Lucy Pasha-Robinson
Friday 04 August 2017 09:46 EDT
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Previous inquests heard her parents Bassem Choucair, 40, and Nadia Choucair, 33, as well as her 13-year-old sister Mierna and 60-year-old grandmother Sirria were also recovered from the 22nd floor
Previous inquests heard her parents Bassem Choucair, 40, and Nadia Choucair, 33, as well as her 13-year-old sister Mierna and 60-year-old grandmother Sirria were also recovered from the 22nd floor (Reuters)

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An 11-year-old girl is the latest victim of the Grenfell Tower fire to be identified by her dental records, an inquest has heard.

Fatima Choucair was found on the 22nd floor of the 24-storey block that was gutted by the blaze on 14 June.

It comes after previous inquests heard her parents Bassem Choucair, 40, and Nadia Choucair, 33, as well as her 13-year-old sister Mierna and 60-year-old grandmother Sirria were also recovered from the 22nd floor.

An inquest was also opened into the death of 12-year-old Firdows Hashim, who was found on the same floor and identified by her DNA.

The court was told the causes of both children's deaths were "consistent with the effects of fire".

Coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox told the hearing that "identifications are becoming increasingly difficult".

Fatima's mother Nadia Choucair also died in the fire
Fatima's mother Nadia Choucair also died in the fire

It comes days after two-year-old Jeremiah Deen was formally identified as one of the youngest victims of the tragedy.

Inquests have now been opened and adjourned for 48 victims, but police believe at least 80 people died in the fire.

The deadline to submit terms of reference to be considered in the public inquiry into the disaster has been set for 5pm on Friday 4 August and roughly 300 submissions are expected.

Campaign groups urged Sir Martin Moore-Bick, the former judge who will lead the investigation, to make it as wide-ranging as possible.

Justice4Grenfell included six suggestions for the terms of reference and said the inquiry's fundamental purpose needed to be restoring public confidence in the safety of "social housing nationally" and the "competence, ability and willingness of public authorities to oversee, regulate and ensure" it.

It urged the inquiry to investigate not just Kensington and Chelsea Council but also Government departments including the Home Office, the Department for Communities and Local Government and 10 Downing Street.

It said: "The inquiry must uncover the correspondence and documents within these departments that go to the heart of the failed housing and social policies that caused or exacerbated the fire, along with the appalling response in the aftermath.

"The inquiry should seek and obtain internal communications between Government ministers, MPs, councillors and civil servants on matters relating to the Grenfell Tower disaster and the issues related to it."

Additional reporting by Press Association

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