The journey of Mohammed Alhajali

The story of the Syrian civil war has to be one of the most Tragic events of the early 21st Century, what began as the civil war against President Assad has now drawn in many nations from around the world. As the war progressed one 23-year-old Syrian student who had been studying civil engineering decided to flee the carnage.

Whether he was part of the 20,000 Syrians that are projected to be given UK citizenship over five years as the government wants or not is unclear. However, Mohammed was one of the lucky ones to be given residence in this country.

In the meantime, he continued his civil engineering studies at the University of London.

The day the fire struck at Grenfell Tower in Kensington an area where rich and poor live side by side he and his brother Omar attempted to escape the inferno.

Omar reached safety, however, for reasons unknown, Mohammed returned to his 14th floor flat to await rescue by firefighters and while there he spoke to his family in Syria by phone.

Tragic death of Mohammed Alhajali

The blackened remains of Grenfell Tower look like something out of a horror film. It looks like it's been bombed, ironically like the burnt out shells of buildings in many war-ravaged and abandoned buildings in Syria where Mohammed Alhajali came from.

Other times as the building was smoking on our television screens it appeared ironically like the twin tower attacks in New York 9/11.

While Mohammed spoke on the phone to his relatives firefighters were unable to reach his flat and save him. Before he perished he wished his family one last goodbye.

It is ironic that this young man of 23 escaped the war and destruction of his native land to die in the UK in a burning building.

Alhajali just one of many victims

Alhajali was involved in the Syrian Solidarity Campaign, an organisation that wants to bring democracy to Syria. People who knew Mohammed Alhajali and those who worked with him at the Syrian Solidarity Campaign described him as a very nice man.

With the death toll of 17 probably expected to rise from the Grenfell Tower disaster questions are being asked who or what is responsible for this disaster.

Is it arson or was it an electrical fault? Obviously, these questions will be answered in due course as the fire service and others investigate this awful incident.

The council ultimately must bear the blame, but one good thing appears to have come out of this is people of different nationalities, races and religions have come together over as a community. Also, people the length and breadth of the UK have donated food and clothes for the survivors of this terrible catastrophe.