Aalim Makial Jibril fell 15 floors to his death from a kitchen window at Jacobs House tower block in Plaistow
A neighbourhood is in mourning following the tragic death of Aalim Makial Jibril, the five-year-old boy who fell 15 floors to his death from a kitchen window at Jacobs House tower block in Plaistow.
An inquest at Walthamstow Coroners Court on 24 May heard that the little boy died instantly from his injuries as he hit the railings surrounding the block.
Since the tragedy occurred, shortly before 6am on 16 May, two major inquiries have been announced. Assistant coroner Ian Wade has ordered a ‘coronial investigation’ because he said there was no doubt that Aalim did not die of natural causes.
Newham Council immediately announced a full inquiry to be concluded by 12 June with a promise that its findings will be made public. The Daily Mail reported that Aalim’s mother had told Newham Council that the windows were not safe for her children, prior to the tragedy.
Aalim’s death has shocked the local community, with many people offering support to the heartbroken family, laying flowers and other tributes where Aalim was found by his distraught father. A GoFundMe webpage has raised over £1000 to help the family with funeral and memorial costs.
Aalim, a pupil at New City Primary School, was described by headteacher Caroline Stone in an interview with the Evening Standard as “a beautiful, happy and caring boy who thoroughly enjoyed school and was popular with all his friends”.
Meanwhile, in a statement, Paul Kitson, Newham Council’s director of housing and inclusive economy, said he was aware of the need for transparency, accountability and to act quickly.
He said: “We have commissioned an internal audit team who have instigated a thoroughgoing review of our management of the property in question over the past two years, including an examination of records of all correspondence with our tenants in relation to any concerns about windows, and details relating to repairs and maintenance of the flat.
“We will look again at any complaints that have previously been made and review all interactions between the Council and our tenants and determine whether our communication with them has met the required minimum standards.
“We will investigate whether the contractors used in any maintenance and repair work carried all relevant qualifications and British Safety Council accreditations, and whether the Council complied with its own policy standards for inspecting and assessing the work carried out.”
Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz spoke of the “sadness, grief and numbness in the community who have rallied around to provide the family and each other comfort as well as fundraising for the family”.
She added: “I also know from speaking to families and local residents that there is disbelief as well as anger about how this could have come about and the circumstances surrounding the death of a child who lived in a council high-rise”. She said the Council’s internal audit committee that will carry out the inquiry is legally obliged to remain independent and that she would continue to ask questions of the Council “to ensure that any lessons that may need to be learnt by the Council will be learned”.
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