21:33

There has been speculation that the government has asked media organisations to hide the true extent of the Grenfell Tower disaster by means of a “D-Notice”, now officially known as a DSMA-Notice, as friends and relatives grow increasingly frustrated at the lack of clarity.

None has been issued in relation to the Grenfell Tower fire, the MoD has confirmed to the Guardian.

DSMA-Notices are requests from the government that certain information not be made public by news outlets in the interests of national security. They are voluntary arrangements between Whitehall and the media organisations. Some outlets speculated that such a notice had been put out.

The SKWAWKBOX (@skwawkbox) Video: Govt puts ‘D-notice’ gag on real #Grenfell death toll #nationalsecurity https://t.co/cSn27amr2s pic.twitter.com/idBoNBcMiA

Aaron Bastani (@AaronBastani) People asking if this is true - it is highly, highly possible. Skwawkbox have excellent sources. Answers needed. https://t.co/xQGKsHDT5n

The former later updated its article to say no D-Notice had been issued and the latter said they thought it “unlikely” one had been. Both organisations said they had contacted the Home Office about the issue. The DSMA Committee is part of the Ministry of Defence, not the Home Office.

All active DSMA-Notices are published by the committee that issues them. You can read more about the history of the D-Notice here.

The Metropolitan police have said that at least 30 people are known to have been killed, but that that death toll is expected to rise. Two of them have been named by friends and family as Khadija Saye and Mohammed Alhajali. About 70 more people are thought to be missing.