The refugee who fled war-torn Syria only to die in London flat blaze

The refugee who fled war-torn Syria only to die in London flat blaze
By Chris Harris
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Mohammed Alhajali, 23, is the first named victim of the deadly fire.

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A refugee from Syria has become the first named victim of the deadly blaze that ravaged a London apartment block.

Mohammed Alhajali, 23, was one of at least 17 people to die in the fire, according to the charity Syrian Solidarity Campaign (SSC).

“Mohammed undertook a dangerous journey to flee war and death in Syria, only to meet it here in the UK, in his own home,” said SSC in a statement.

Alhajali, who was studying civil engineering at West London University, had escaped a flat on the 14th floor with his brother, Omar.

The pair got split up, the charity said, and Alhajali went back to his flat and tried to call family back in Syria.

“Mohammed was on the phone for two hours with a friend in Syria, waiting to be rescued,” continued the statement.

“He was trying to reach his family in Syria but he could not get connected to them due to the situation in Syria.

“He had not seen his family for four years.

“When the fire reached his flat on the 14th floor, Mohammed bid his friend goodbye, saying that the fire had reached him.

“He asked his friend to pass on the message to his family.”

Alhajali was due to attend an event in Chalk Farm this Saturday as part of The Great Get Together and Refugee Week.

The get-together will now be turned into a tribute to Alhajali and all those who lost their lives in the fire.

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