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| M6 closure: Lorry driver arrested after 'migrants' found | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A lorry driver is being questioned after police stopped a vehicle on the M6 near Stoke-on-Trent and found 27 suspected migrants in the back. | A lorry driver is being questioned after police stopped a vehicle on the M6 near Stoke-on-Trent and found 27 suspected migrants in the back. |
| Staffordshire Police arrested the man, 42, on suspicion of "facilitating the illegal entry" of people into the UK. | Staffordshire Police arrested the man, 42, on suspicion of "facilitating the illegal entry" of people into the UK. |
| Officers acted after receiving reports flagging up concerns about the welfare of those in the wagon, the force said. | Officers acted after receiving reports flagging up concerns about the welfare of those in the wagon, the force said. |
| It is understood they were medically assessed and transferred to immigration officials for interview. | It is understood they were medically assessed and transferred to immigration officials for interview. |
| Part of the motorway was closed from about 16:00 GMT - causing lengthy tailbacks - as police searched vehicles near Keele services. | Part of the motorway was closed from about 16:00 GMT - causing lengthy tailbacks - as police searched vehicles near Keele services. |
| The lorry was stopped on the northbound carriageway between junctions 15 and 16 at about 17:45. | The lorry was stopped on the northbound carriageway between junctions 15 and 16 at about 17:45. |
| Among those caught up in huge tailbacks were hundreds of Burton Albion supporters who had been travelling to their team's Carabao Cup semi-final against Manchester City, which they lost 9-0. | |
| 'People escaped' | 'People escaped' |
| Driver Danny Ellis said he had seen 30 to 40 police cars pass him on the northbound side of the motorway, and said three or four lorries had been stopped and searched. | Driver Danny Ellis said he had seen 30 to 40 police cars pass him on the northbound side of the motorway, and said three or four lorries had been stopped and searched. |
| "We were told for safety to get back in our cars and lock them," he said. | "We were told for safety to get back in our cars and lock them," he said. |
| "We were told a lot of people escaped and ran from the back of these lorries." | "We were told a lot of people escaped and ran from the back of these lorries." |
| The 30-year-old telecoms worker said he had seen men on the ground being treated by paramedics. | The 30-year-old telecoms worker said he had seen men on the ground being treated by paramedics. |
| Another eyewitness told BBC Radio Stoke he had seen police stopping lorries. | Another eyewitness told BBC Radio Stoke he had seen police stopping lorries. |
| He said: "They pulled a white trailer up on the side and they were shouting 'are they in here?' | He said: "They pulled a white trailer up on the side and they were shouting 'are they in here?' |
| "The driver opened the vehicle and I just watched 15 of them come out." | "The driver opened the vehicle and I just watched 15 of them come out." |
| Police said a number of people had fled but were eventually detained, with none reporting serious injuries. | Police said a number of people had fled but were eventually detained, with none reporting serious injuries. |
| Deputy Chief Constable Nick Baker said: "We were acting on information where there was real concern for people in distress and therefore it was necessary for us to take immediate and appropriate action." | Deputy Chief Constable Nick Baker said: "We were acting on information where there was real concern for people in distress and therefore it was necessary for us to take immediate and appropriate action." |
| He apologised to motorists for disruption on the motorway, which Highways England said was not fully reopened until about 22:00 GMT. | He apologised to motorists for disruption on the motorway, which Highways England said was not fully reopened until about 22:00 GMT. |
| Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone. | Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone. |