Grenfell victim's parents 'will be allowed into UK to attend his funeral'

The parents of a Syrian refugee killed in the Grenfell Tower fire are set to be granted an emergency visa to attend his funeral in the UK, officials have indicated.

The Home Office said they have contacted the family of Mohammed al-Haj Ali, 23, and "assisted them in making arrangements for their travel to the UK in these terribly sad circumstances".

It comes after more than 75,000 people signed a petition calling for refugee's immediate family to be allowed into the country to say their final goodbyes.

Mr al-Haj Ali was the first confirmed victim of the fire. His brother Omar managed to escape the building after the two got separated while trying to flee together.

Family friend Mirna Suleiman, 26, who set up the online petition, said Mr al-Haj Ali had asked friends to pass on messages of love to his family after realising he was trapped.

Ms Suleiman said that Mr al-Haj Ali's parents had applied for an emergency visa so they could attend the funeral and visit their surviving son in hospital.

The petition was set up as she knew how often visas for Syrians were refused.

Of the success of the campaign, Ms Suleiman said: "I'm happy - but not happy that it had to reach this.

"It shouldn't reach a point where people are dying (before) we can allow families to be reunited with one another."

The Change.org petition follows a crowdfunding effort to pay for Mr Alhajali's funeral - with donations surpassing the £15,000 target within a day.