This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34083337
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Migrant crisis: More than 70 bodies found in Austria lorry | Migrant crisis: More than 70 bodies found in Austria lorry |
(35 minutes later) | |
Austrian officials now say more than 70 bodies, thought to be migrants, were in an abandoned lorry found on a motorway. | Austrian officials now say more than 70 bodies, thought to be migrants, were in an abandoned lorry found on a motorway. |
They originally estimated that between 20 to 50 people died in the vehicle, found near the Hungarian border. | They originally estimated that between 20 to 50 people died in the vehicle, found near the Hungarian border. |
Police discovered the decomposing bodies on Thursday morning after being sent to investigate the dumped lorry on the A4 motorway heading towards Vienna. | Police discovered the decomposing bodies on Thursday morning after being sent to investigate the dumped lorry on the A4 motorway heading towards Vienna. |
The local police chief said it appeared those in the vehicle had been dead for one and a half to two days. | The local police chief said it appeared those in the vehicle had been dead for one and a half to two days. |
The victims were probably already dead when the vehicle crossed into Austria from Hungary, authorities said. | The victims were probably already dead when the vehicle crossed into Austria from Hungary, authorities said. |
The vehicle was towed to a customs building with refrigeration facilities in Nickelsdorf on Thursday. | The vehicle was towed to a customs building with refrigeration facilities in Nickelsdorf on Thursday. |
Forensic teams worked through the night to examine the bodies. | Forensic teams worked through the night to examine the bodies. |
Austrian police are expected to reveal the exact toll at a news conference at 11:00 (09:00 GMT) on Friday. | Austrian police are expected to reveal the exact toll at a news conference at 11:00 (09:00 GMT) on Friday. |
The Austrian and Hungarian police are working together to try and find the driver. | The Austrian and Hungarian police are working together to try and find the driver. |
The vehicle bears the logo of a Slovakian poultry company, Hyza, which said it no longer owned the vehicle - but the buyers had not removed the branding. | The vehicle bears the logo of a Slovakian poultry company, Hyza, which said it no longer owned the vehicle - but the buyers had not removed the branding. |
Hans Peter Doskozil, police chief in the Burgenland province where the lorry was found, said it was a refrigerated vehicle - not the typical choice for people smugglers, he added. | Hans Peter Doskozil, police chief in the Burgenland province where the lorry was found, said it was a refrigerated vehicle - not the typical choice for people smugglers, he added. |
The lorry, which has Hungarian number plates, is understood to have left Budapest on Wednesday morning. | The lorry, which has Hungarian number plates, is understood to have left Budapest on Wednesday morning. |
'Warning to Europe' | 'Warning to Europe' |
Tens of thousands of migrants from conflict-hit states in the Middle East and Africa have been trying to make their way to Europe in recent months. | Tens of thousands of migrants from conflict-hit states in the Middle East and Africa have been trying to make their way to Europe in recent months. |
Some of them pay large sums of money to people smugglers to get them through borders illegally. | Some of them pay large sums of money to people smugglers to get them through borders illegally. |
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, in Austria for a summit with Balkan leaders on the migrant crisis, said she was "shaken" by the "horrible" news. | German Chancellor Angela Merkel, in Austria for a summit with Balkan leaders on the migrant crisis, said she was "shaken" by the "horrible" news. |
"This is a warning to us to tackle this migrants issue quickly and in a European spirit, which means in a spirit of solidarity, and to find solutions," Mrs Merkel said. | "This is a warning to us to tackle this migrants issue quickly and in a European spirit, which means in a spirit of solidarity, and to find solutions," Mrs Merkel said. |
Migrants' perilous Western Balkan route to Germany | Migrants' perilous Western Balkan route to Germany |
Why is EU struggling with migrant crisis? | Why is EU struggling with migrant crisis? |
Truck sightings | Truck sightings |
Early Wednesday: Police believe the truck set off from south-east of Budapest | Early Wednesday: Police believe the truck set off from south-east of Budapest |
09:00 Wednesday: Truck recorded on cameras at Hegyeshalom on the Hungarian side of the border with Austria | 09:00 Wednesday: Truck recorded on cameras at Hegyeshalom on the Hungarian side of the border with Austria |
05:00 or 06:00 Thursday: Truck was already parked in the lay-by, between Neusiedl and Parndorf, at this time | 05:00 or 06:00 Thursday: Truck was already parked in the lay-by, between Neusiedl and Parndorf, at this time |
11:30 Thursday: Austrian police open the truck and find bodies | 11:30 Thursday: Austrian police open the truck and find bodies |
Have you been affected by this story? If you wish to contact BBC News, you can do so by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | |
Or use the form below |