[The Heroic residents of the Grenfell Tower saved their neighbors by banging on their doors and guiding them to safety. (Image from local media)]
London: Muslims awake to have their Ramadan fast last meal known as Suhoor might have helped save lives after noticing the horrific blaze at Grenfell Tower in London which took place after midnight.
The Heroic residents of the Grenfell Tower saved their neighbors by banging on their doors and guiding them to safety.
Residents have told of how they didn't hear alarms as the fire swept through the 24-storey tower block in West London. But they were instead alerted to the blaze by fellow residents, some of whom may have been Muslim people who were awake early in the morning to break their fast and were among the first to notice the fire, according to media reports.
The fire broke out not long after midnight and when many people living in the tower block were asleep. Muslims were among the first people on the scene as people were evacuated from Grenville Tower.
Andre Barroso, 33, told The Independent: "Muslims played a big part in getting a lot of people out.
"Most of the people I could see were Muslim. They have also been providing food and clothes."
He said lots of people were still searching for friends and relatives who lived inside the tower.
Many people have donated water, food, and clothing to the nearby St Clement church, where locals have taken refuge. Others are distributing water bottles to those waiting outside.
"Everybody was hands on. It was wonderful to see everyone come together."
Rashida, a local resident, told Sky News how Muslim’s observing Ramadan may have saved lives in the tower block, as many of them were awake.
She said: “Most Muslims now observing Ramadan will normally not go to be until about 2: am maybe 2.30am.
“Until they have their late night last meal. They do their last prayer.
“So most of the families around here would have been awake, and I think even with the noise of the helicopters, it would have brought a lot of attention to a lot of residents non-Muslim as well that would have thought something's going on that’s not quite normal.”
She spoke of how tight-knit the community was, and how many different nationalities lived in the tower.
"It’s a very diverse area, we have all nationalities, all religions, she said.
“We all live peacefully amongst each other; there is not much crime higher than anywhere else.
“You can walk around safely late at night… we all know each other.
“We all know each other, there is a very high population of Moroccans, and for some reason, we all live close to each other. Literally, everyone knows each other.”
Nadia Yousuf, 29, told BuzzFeed Muslim residents were among the first to notice the fire, as they woke up to prepare to break their fast.
"They saw it just after they woke up to eat," she said.
A local church is giving shelter to those who lost their belongings and homes in the blaze.
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