this is bbc news. i'm lukwesa burak the headlines at 2pm: theresa may is meeting victims of the grenfell fire at downing street. earlier she chaired a taskforce to coordinate efforts to help people affected. the queen says it's difficult to escape a very sombre national mood following tragedies in london and manchester. she's led a minute's silence at the start of events to mark her official birthday. i'm reporting close to grenfell tower. we're hearing that two london underground lines near the building have been suspended by transport for london this afternoon, because of fears about the building's safety. # in other news, pc keith palmer, who tried to stop the terror # who tried to stop the terror attack in westminster, has been awarded the george medal for his bravery, as the queen's birthday honours are announced. and in rugby — the british and irish lions get a confidence boosting win, as they power

to victory against the maori all blacks. good afternoon. welcome to bbc news. we start with the latest events concerning the grenfell tower fire. we cross live to west london and speak to ben brown. yeah, we're expecting a news conference later on here this afternoon from the metropolitan police, where we may get an update on the casualty figures from the disaster. we know at the moment the official death toll is 30. though the bbc understands the total number of dead and missing is 70. 2a in hospital, 12 in critical care. but those numbers may change when we get that news conference a little bit later on. let me also tell you that

15 residents who managed to survive the disaster and also volunteers who we re the disaster and also volunteers who were helping those made homeless, those affected by the tragedy here have gone into downing street this afternoon to meet theresa may. the prime minister has been criticised for failing prime minister has been criticised forfailing to meet prime minister has been criticised for failing to meet residents, prime minister has been criticised forfailing to meet residents, when she came here initially after the disaster, only meeting the emergency services. there's been quite a lot of hostility to her when she came yesterday, there were angry scenes here. in fact, yesterday, there were angry scenes here. infact, even yesterday, there were angry scenes here. in fact, even now, just close to where i'm speaking to you from, there's a sign up in the road saying "stay away theresa may". but those 15 residents and volunteers meeting the prime minister this afternoon. let's get a round up of the latest developments now. bringing flowers, lighting candles

and leaving messages at one of many churches in the area, a sombre time for people to reflect and come to terms with what's happened here. michael used to live in grenfell tower and has come to pay respects to his friend affectately nicknam moses. a lot of people are grieving for him, friends and family. he was a very loving man, you know. he a lwa ys a very loving man, you know. he always used to make sure that people we re always used to make sure that people were cared for and looked after. yesterday the queen met volunteers and residents in the community and today, in her birthday message, that was reflected: her words followed by an impromptu

minute's silence at buckingham palace. just a few miles away, the government taskforce met this morning to discuss how to help those affected by the fire. there is now, from today, on the ground a central operation precisely . answer all operation precisely to answer all those perfectly reasonable questions that people have in these desperate police have confirmed circumstances. ffilm least 30 people died in the fire, at least 30 people died in the fire, but that number is expected to rise. that will only happen when firefighters can safely make their way up into this charred building that once used to be home to hundreds of people. but the questions surrounding this tragedy remain unanswered. how did it start? why did it spread so quickly? and who, if anyone, why did it spread so quickly? and who, ifanyone, is why did it spread so quickly? and who, if anyone, is to blame? well, there's been a service very

close to grenfell tower at a catholic church here, a catholic mass to pay respects and to remember those who've died, those who are still missing and unaccounted for. the mass was led by the archbishop of westminster, the leader of the catholic church in england and wales. he told the congregation that he understood the anger that there is in this community. he said that anger should be channelled for good. you know, anger is energy and what i said inside was the thing about anger and its energy is it has to be directed in the right way. it has to get shaped so it becomes a positive source. i think the thing that i most troubling is those who find most troubling is those who would wish to use that anger to deepen divisions in society, to create further divisions, because down that road is just a dog—eat—dog road. really what we were thinking about and road. really what we were thinking

aboutand urging road. really what we were thinking about and urging this morning was that yes, people are angry. yes, that's quite understandable and right. but let's use that energy to build something better. that's the leader of the catholic church in england and wales. i was mentioning a bit earlier on that meeting in downing street, the prime minister seeing some of the residents there in downing street from grenfell tower and also some of the volu nteers tower and also some of the volunteers who've been working here. let's go to our political correspondent emma va rdy. let's go to our political correspondent emma vardy. what's the latest from there? in the last ten minutes or so, latest from there? in the last ten minutes orso, a latest from there? in the last ten minutes or so, a group of people have arrived here, about 15 or, so mixture of ages, a mixture of backgrounds. there was one young girl amongst them. they were all wearing white ribbons as they arrived for their meeting with the prime minister. we're told they're victims, residents and volunteers. this follows a difficult few days for the prime minister really. we've seen angry for the prime minister really. we've seen angry scenes at for the prime minister really. we've seen angry scenes at grenfell tower.

the prime minister had to leave there under a police guard last night. so you get the sense that this meeting here at downing street is really an attempt to start to build trust with the local community, to meet with people affected by the tragedy under a different scenario now. it is a difficult balance for the government to strike at the moment. there's been an outpouring of shock, of grief. people are calling for authorities to be held accountable. but at the same time, the government has had to balance the need for a nswe rs has had to balance the need for answers with the need to act responsibly and take things step by step. as well as the government's practical response to this tragedy, theresa may has come in for personal criticism about the humanity that she's shown through this situation. damian green defended the prime minister saying she had faced unfair criticism over the empathy that she had shown with victims. earlier

theresa may chaired a taskforce looking at grenfell tower recovery operation. now she is in the meeting with victims and residents of g re nfell tower. with victims and residents of grenfell tower. that is a very different meeting to that taskforce that she chaired earlier. thank you very much. just want to mention to you that we're hearing that two london underground lines close to grenfell tower have been suspended. this is because the london fire brigade are concerned about the stability of the building. 0ur about the stability of the building. our understanding is that it's possibly because of the underground trains if they're continuing to move close to the area that they might destabilise the carcass, this blackened carcass of a building that is there. the fire brigade have said at the moment it is stable, it is structurally sound. this have been shoring it up internally. clearly, they are sufficiently concerned that

they are sufficiently concerned that they have suspended the two london tube lines. i'm joined now by paul dadge, a former fireman whose picture was shown across the world helping a survivor of the 7/7 bombings. thanks forjoining us from birmingham. i wonder what your thoughts are, as a former firefighter, as somebody who helped survivors of that terrible tragedy as well — the toll, the toll in terms of mental trauma that the firefighters working in this disaster may be facing now? well, what we've got to think of is the people or the firefighters indeed who were rushing towards the scene the other day. knowing that there we re the other day. knowing that there were people trapped within that building and not just were people trapped within that building and notjust the firefighters, in fact, building and notjust the firefighters, infact, importantly the people who work in fire control who would have been taking 999 calls from members of the public who were trapped within the tower and were

looking for instructions, life—saving instructions to make sure that they could get out. we need to look at the firefighters in terms of their mental health. the people who work in fire control, the police and the ambulance service, who were there in many numbers as well. obviously, so difficult and the conditions that those firefighters would have been in going up those stairs, as you say, ata time going up those stairs, as you say, at a time when the building was basically burning, absolutely ferociously, almost unthinkable, even with all the high—level that they would have. yeah, training that they would have. yeah, danny cotton, the fire commissioner has said it's the worst fire she's seen has said it's the worst fire she's seenin has said it's the worst fire she's seen in 29 years. it's unknown to have a fire of this magnitude in the uk in terms of the challenging aspect, where firefighters with breathing apparatus are entering a

very complex situation to be able to get up there and to save life. without any doubts, all the emergency services are to be commended for what they d -- did. your experience, memorably from your experience, memorably helping that survivor on 7/7. i know people who are rescuers and survivors often feel guilt, after a tragedy like, this simply that they are still alive. yeah, i think, tragedy like, this simply that they are still alive. yeah, ithink, i carry a level of guilt, because i didn't go down onto the tube train after 7/7 to help the people who we re after 7/7 to help the people who were injured and were dying under i think we have three types there. i think we have three types of people in this country. those who run towards, those who want to run towards but don't feel they have the necessary skills and those who walk the other way. particularly in the aftermath of what we've seen here, we've had a lot of people, those who weren't involved want to help. that's extremely reassuring. i

remember a headline from a canadian newspaper after 7/7 which said "brit grit". whenever we suffer this kind of thing, brit grit starts to shine through. thank you so much for being with us. a pleasure to talk to you. the former firefighter who helped survivors on the day of thejuly 7th bombings back in 2005. i want to speak to somebody else who's helping people here close to grenfell tower, m$ a therapist. we were lorraine, a therapist. we were watching a bit earlier on. you were helping a woman who was incredibly distressed, who fears she's lost loved ones. yes, she had suffered pretty profound distress and huge loss. so we used a technique that is particularly useful in times of profound trauma, called havening,

which is a psycho sensory therapy, which is a psycho sensory therapy, which involves stroking of the arms, the hands and it's a very gentle but effective therapy that is useful at times like this. because the grief is so raw and it's people who don't even know 100% that their loved ones are dead. they're unaccounted for, they're missing. does that make it worse in some ways? i think it does, particularly in this case. there's so particularly in this case. there's so many particularly in this case. there's so many unanswered particularly in this case. there's so many unanswered questions. there's people missing. the outcome is not good. there is profound pain. this particular lady had left sierra leone, left a war there and came here expecting safety and now has lost numerous members of her family. lost numerous members of herfamily. ! these are the very early days and these are the very early days obviously. it's so important for people like you to be on hand to help. i think so. people like you to be on hand to help. ithink so. i believe people like you to be on hand to help. i think so. i believe the sooner we can help. i think so. i believe the sooner we can help and show people

that there is help available, that they can access that help, that we're here, available on the ground, i think that can only be a positive. must be difficult for you, you it must be difficult for you, you know, it's difficult obviously, incredibly distressing for them in their grief, for you, even though you're a trained therapist, how hard do you find it? it's unprecedented. you really don't know what to expect. some of these stories that we've heard and are listening to today are absolutely harrowing, distressing. i mean, the worst possible experiences that anyone could live through. yes, it's very, very difficult and i'm glad we can help. i know a lot of people adding to the problem because it is taking time to identify the dead in that building. it's a time consuming! that is incredibly process. that is incredibly frustrating for those who are relatives and friends that's very visible. the uncertainty and, you

know, people know but they don't know. that's very hard for them to live with. and to deal with, because until they have answers - can't until they have answers they can't really start that process of healing. yes, a very difficult time. people like you are here, which is terrific now. this grief and pain is going to last for years, well, for the rest of their lives. they are themest of’the'rr fives—thaw to need caring for and looking going to need caring for and looking after for a going to need caring for and looking afterfor a long time. going to need caring for and looking after for a long time. what's really wonderful is that there is a huge number of volunteers, therapists like me, psycho therapists, psychologists, there's an amazing movement under way. people are volunteering their time, knowing that this is not a short—term solution and that this will be a long—term goal to facilitate and help people going through this thank you very much for your time. i know you're busy, carry on with your good work. thank you. a therapist who is

helping some of- families, helping some of those families, loved ones and friends who are in such distress. we've seen it again in the last few hours, actually, really heart breaking scenes here. still some anger, still people angry, of course. we've been talking to volunteers and community leaders who say that anger is understandable. but they‘ re who say that anger is understandable. but they're trying to calm down tempers. they don't wa nt to calm down tempers. they don't want this comubt to be pour —— community to be portrayed as simply an angry community. they want people out there in the rest of the country and the world to know this is a loving and care community as well as undoubtedly an angry community. that's the latest from here. i'll hand you back to the studio. the annual trooping of the colour has taken place this morning with members of the royal family out in force . in a statement released to mark her official birthday, the queen said it was difficult to escape the sombre mood in the country in the wake of recent tragedies.

here's our royal correspondent, nicholas witchell. the queen's birthday parade, trooping the colour, normally the ceremonial high point of the summer, but this year, an expression of a nation's sadness. that was given expression to both in the minute's silence and in the statement issued by the queen this morning. that minute's silence added to the programme very minute's silence added to the programme very much at the last minute. at 10. 45 programme very much at the last minute. at10. 45 as programme very much at the last minute. at 10. 45 as the queen and duke of edinburgh left the palace they stood for a minute in tribute to those lost at grenfell tower and also in the terrorist atrocities in manchester and london. then in that statement, which she issued this morning, referring to the sombre national mood and recalling the fact that she visited grenfell tower yesterday herself and to manchester last month, where she says that she was profoundly truck by the immediate inclination of people throughout the country to offer comfort and support to those in desperate need. although this

birthday parade, all the normal components, the marching guardsman, the balcony appearance, the fly by, prince george and princess charlotte, this was rather subdued reflecting on recent tragedies. events are taking place across the country this weekend to mark the first anniversary ofjo cox's murder. the great get together, as it's called, has been organised by her family. the idea is forfriends, neighbours and others they don't yet know to spend time with each other. we can join our correspondent fiona trott now in heckmondwike in west yorkshire, which is in batley and spen, jo cox's former constituency. it looks like a day for the family, behind you there. absolutely so. hundreds of people have been coming here today in this beautiful sunshine. theyjust have been coming here today in this beautiful sunshine. they just wanted come and have a giant picnic to come and have a giant picnic here. bands here on the bandstand to play here today, just wanted to come together and be neighbourly and show

support for each other, wanting to show support forjo cox's family too. earlier we spoke to her husband, i explained why events : é this today are so important. : é this today are so importantlj like this today are so importantlj think for us, it was thinking about how we take forward jo's legacy and the things she cared about. the thing that drove jo was about bringing closer communities together. she wanted to build a community. she wanted to bring people together of different types and backgrounds. ithink people together of different types and backgrounds. i think she would be humbled by the scale be incredibly humbled by the scale of the response there's - we of the response there's been. we know of about 120,000 events so far across the country. i think what that shows isjust across the country. i think what that shows is just the across the country. i think what that shows isjust the sense across the country. i think what that shows is just the sense that country's crying out for these the country's crying out for these moments of togetherness. we spend so much time talking - the things much time talking about the things we disagree on. i think people want that balance. there really is a balance here today, people coming together, showing awe port for each other. a lot of happy faces here. let's chat to some of the mums. how important is it for you that everybody has

come here from your local community? i think come here from your local community? ithink i'm come here from your local community? i think i'm very proud, very privileged for such an event to actually take place at the heart of the community here and it gives you a clear example of how much we have in common really. but sadly, obviously, over the time you've seen, there's been so much bad publicity. that doesn't give a clear picture of what community cohesion is. it's about individuals from diverse communities coming together really moving forward and and really moving forward and embracing together. i think this is something which many of the other areas can take an example of and move towards this in terms of actually united together in this way and this way forward. frankly, just to relax in the sunshine and to have a good time. it looks to me like you've had some very nice glitter put on yourface you've had some very nice glitter put on your face there. have you been enjoying yourself? yes, i have. what have you been doing? we've been going round doing loads of

activities. do you have school on monday? yeah, i do. you're going to have to sleep carefully so none of that glitter comes off. yeah, i will, won't i. have a lovely rest of the day. thanks forjoining us. why is it important for you that you're here with friends and neighbours? for me, it'sjust here with friends and neighbours? for me, it's just community. here with friends and neighbours? for me, it'sjust community. the whole community coming together, united as one rather than being united as one rather than being united as one rather than being isolated and feeling that we shouldn't all come together. it's important for us to be together. when we were tojo important for us to be together. when we were - tojo cox's when we were chatting tojo cox's sister earlier, she said people shouldn't just sister earlier, she said people shouldn'tjust come together following tragedy. it should be all the time. it really — when you see people here today — it makes you realise how easy it is to come together and meet each other this is a starting point definitely. this gets the ball rolling. people start together, interacting more coming together, interacting more and then it means that outside of this event, people can get together as well. would you like to see then as well. would you like to see this happen here in your community every year? definitely. i'm not from round here originally. i've lived

here close to two years now. there was nothing like this for my was nettiing’fikfethils ffirmehfime- everybody together is town. seeing everybody together is really good. enjoy the rest of today. thanks for chatting to us. it's not just today. thanks for chatting to us. it's notjust the great get together today that is following on from jo cox's death, one year ago, of course that memorial fund was set up , be; 55 555555 555 5 55,5 her 7 .77 55 5555555555 5555 her death 7 777 55 5555555555 5555 her death too. today, it's following her death too. today, it's raised almost £2 million for charities that were close to her heart. fiona, thank you very much. two men have been- to hospital after 16 people were found in the back of a lorry in sweltering heat. the occupants of the vehicle waved to catch the attention of passing motorists on the a 22. drivers flagged down the driver who stopped. emergency teams helped free the 13 men, two women and a child from the back of the hgv. two of the - were back of the hgv. two of the men were taken to hospital with dehydration.

us officials say seven crew members are unaccounted for, after a us navy destroyer collided with a merchant ship off the coast of japan. the uss fitzgerald was seriously damaged, after it was struck by a philippine—registered container ship in the middle of the night. it was for a nearby it was - for a nearby port under its own power. among the injured is the ship's commanding officer, who has been taken to hospital by helicopter. sarah corker reports. the uss fitzgerald sustained significant damage to its starboard side. in the middle of the night ship on the approach to tokyo bay. three crew members were airlifted to hospital, including the ship's commanding officer, who is in a stable condition. the total number of injured is unknown. the incident happened at 2:30am local time on saturday, 56 nautical miles south—west of yokosuka, a busy commercial waterway.

this is the merchant vessel involved, the philippine registered acx crystal, with relatively light damage on the port bow. the fitzgerald, with a crew of more than 300 sailors, started taking on water, with at least three compartments flooded. the hull has been breached. this was notjust bumping each other, this was a serious collision. we will have to see why it happened, why the vessels did not see each other, or did not communicate clearly or if there was something else going on. the fitzgerald is a guided missile destroyer based at yokosuka. in february, a $21 million degrade its role is to support security and stability in the asian pacific region. with the help of the coast guard, the warship is heading back to port

of the most advanced naval radar systems hit a huge container ship in open water? we're going live to a scene over whitehall in central london. you can see protesters, who have been gathering again this afternoon, anger has been mounting over the g re nfell anger has been mounting over the grenfell fire response from the government and in particular, directed at may, government and in particular, directed at- may, coming directed at theresa may, coming under increasing pressure over her handling of the disaster. we understand that at the moment within downing street itself she is meeting - several victims and of that fire. the protests survivors of that fire. the protests

have been - place. friday we have been taking place. friday we saw some. there had been talk of further protests continuing today. it's over the government's response to the tragedy. as it stands at least 30 people are officially named as being killed in that fire. the bbc believes that number could actually be as high as 70. kensington town hall was the scene protests on friday. some people of protests on friday. some people also marching - downing street, also marching onto downing street, again in central london, chanting, "no justice — no again in central london, chanting, "nojustice — no peace". many "no justice — no—eeeee—meny for theresa may to stand calling for theresa may to stand down. she herself was heckled when she visited a church. she left via she visited a churchfiheleftvia she visited a church.€heleftvia back she visited a church.€heteftvia back she was she visited a church.€heteftvia back - she was followed she visited a church.€heteftvia back- she was followed and the back door. she was followed and her car was chased down the street by some of those protesters. that is scene at whitehall in that is scene at whitehatb'rrr london outside of downing central london outside of downing! where theresa may is street, where theresa may is currently speaking to and meeting

with survivors the grenfell tower tragedy. the policeman—who'died confronting = pc keith palmer, has been awarded a posthumous medalfor bravery. he is named in the queen's civilian galla ntry list, released this year alongside the birthday honours. among this year's honours, is a knighthood for the comedian billy connolly and a damehood forjulie walters and june whitfield. lizo mzimba reports. pc keith palmer was killed in the westminster terror attacks. he receives a posthumous george medal. the two arresting the the two policemen arresting the man who killed jo cox receive gallantry he just saw who killed jo cox receive gallantry he just sano and tried to medals. he just saw jo and tried to save her. we can't thank him enough. the two boys, similarly,

and the two boys, similarly, unarmed, just went in. they knew he was armed. but not a thought. just went in. and we're absolutely delighted scroo. true heroes. in the entertainment world billie connko in the entertainment world billie connolly knows his knighthood will produce a response from fans. some them will say, what the hell is i a i. a little embarrassed, but that? i am a little embarrassed, but deep within me i'm very pleased to % it. actress julie walters becomes a dame. 19605 1960s eurovision winner sane shaw becomes an mbe and georgejohnny johnson becomes an mbe in a list

that honours more than a thousand people. time for the weather. we're going to speech to ben. we will cross over to newsroom. we're indoors, it's out the newsroom. we're indoors, it's glorious out there! we got the wrong shift this weekend. i think we drew 5511155 fieseegg ' 153? 77g lass short straw there. if you like the aha—t stress! the—e !e ,a lief:- 7 77 7 7 7 77 7 weather, the ehe—t et—ete! the—e !e ,a lief:- 7 77 7 7 7 77 7 weather, that is, it is a good hot weather, that is, it is a good weekend to - out and hot weather, that is, it is a good weekend to out and i know weekend to get out and about. i know a lot of don't. if you don't like it, a trip to the coast might be a decent idea over the next few days. we have sea breezes developing. it feel that bit cooler. can you will feel that bit cooler. can you see from the satellite sequence many of us enjoying sunshine. it's a different story - the for different story across the for north—west of scotland particularly, more cloud, splashes of rain and cooler here. temperatures across the south—east, 29, maybe 30 degrees. through this evening and tonight, most through this evening and tonight, m ost pla ces through this evening and tonight, most places dry with clear spells. 0urarea of most places dry with clear spells. 0ur area of cloud and rain across the far north—west doesn't make much progress southwards. in the centre of london that's your minimum temperature 19 degrees. uncomfortable for sleeping. tomorrow

uncomfortableforsleeoing..tomorrow of the same — sunny across more of the same — sunny across england and wales, bit cooler close to the coast. - nor northern to the coast. cloud nor northern ireland, southern scotland. rain for the far north—west. across the south—east tomorrow, that could bring 32 degrees. it will be the northern areas that are cooler and fresher through the start of the new week. further south the temperatures still not far from 30. hello. this is bbc news. the headlines... theresa may is meeting victims of the grenfell fire at downing street. earlier she chaired a task force to co—ordinate efforts to help people affected. the queen says it's difficult to escape a very sombre national mood following tragedies in london and manchester. she's led a minute's silence at the start of events to mark her official birthday.