At least 12 dead in west London tower block fire

It’s believed to have started shortly before one o’clock on the lower floors of a 24-storey tower block. Within half an hour, flames were leaping up the side of the building.

At the height of the blaze, the building was engulfed, with some residents fleeing, others screaming for help and others, according to eye-witness reports, either jumping from windows themselves or throwing children out to be caught by emergency workers below. So far, 12 people are known to have died, but police say that number will increase.