Grenfell Tower fire: Man arrested after posting pictures of dead body to Facebook

At least 17 people are known to have died with the death toll expected to rise

A 43-year-old man has been arrested over allegations he posted pictures of a Grenfell Tower victim on social media.

Images were posted of what appear to be a partially-covered body following the fatal blaze in north Kensington, west London.

At least 17 people are known to have died after fire ripped through the 24-storey building in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The Metropolitan Police said a man was arrested on suspicion of sending malicious communications and obstructing a coroner.

Officers confirmed the arrest relates to the fire at Grenfell Tower and the man is in custody at a west London police station.

One man told BBC News he believed the photo showed his brother, Mohammed, who is missing.

"This morning we saw a picture of his dead body on social media, and the police didn't know anything about this. This picture shouldn't have been released on social media. The police are saying they couldn't tell us anything until they have more information," he said.

As many as 79 people were taken to six hospitals across the capital as the devastating blaze ripped through the tower block on Latimer Road.

The death toll is expected to rise as investigators trawl through the wreckage in the search for other victims in the tower’s 120 flats.

Dozens of residents remain unaccounted for and London’s fire commissioner Dany Cotton said it was impossible to say how many victims had died in the blaze.

Specially trained dogs are now being prepared to be sent into the building to identify any evidence of people remaining in the building’s flats, though authorities say it is unlikely more survivors will be found.