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 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-50160564
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Essex lorry deaths: Work starts to identify 39 bodies | Essex lorry deaths: Work starts to identify 39 bodies |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Police have begun the process of trying to identify 39 bodies found in a refrigerated lorry trailer in Essex. | Police have begun the process of trying to identify 39 bodies found in a refrigerated lorry trailer in Essex. |
| The trailer arrived in Purfleet on the River Thames from Zeebrugge, Belgium, at about 00:30 BST. | The trailer arrived in Purfleet on the River Thames from Zeebrugge, Belgium, at about 00:30 BST. |
| Ambulance staff discovered the bodies in the unit just over an hour later at Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays. | Ambulance staff discovered the bodies in the unit just over an hour later at Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays. |
| The lorry driver, named locally as Mo Robinson, 25, from Portadown, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, is being questioned by police. | The lorry driver, named locally as Mo Robinson, 25, from Portadown, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, is being questioned by police. |
| Deputy Chief Constable of Essex Police Pippa Mills said the vehicle had been moved to a secure site at Tilbury Docks so the bodies of the 38 adults and one teenager could be "recovered while preserving the dignity of the victims". | Deputy Chief Constable of Essex Police Pippa Mills said the vehicle had been moved to a secure site at Tilbury Docks so the bodies of the 38 adults and one teenager could be "recovered while preserving the dignity of the victims". |
| She said identifying the deceased remained a "priority" but was expected to be a "lengthy process". | She said identifying the deceased remained a "priority" but was expected to be a "lengthy process". |
| Meanwhile, officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland have carried out raids on two houses associated with the arrested man - one in Markethill, County Armagh, and another in nearby Laurelvale. | Meanwhile, officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland have carried out raids on two houses associated with the arrested man - one in Markethill, County Armagh, and another in nearby Laurelvale. |
| Police said the tractor unit (the front part of the lorry) came from Northern Ireland and picked up the trailer from Purfleet. | Police said the tractor unit (the front part of the lorry) came from Northern Ireland and picked up the trailer from Purfleet. |
| The tractor and trailer then left the port shortly after 01:05 and officers were called around 30 minutes later when ambulance staff made the grim discovery. | The tractor and trailer then left the port shortly after 01:05 and officers were called around 30 minutes later when ambulance staff made the grim discovery. |
| Police have appealed for witnesses and anyone with information about the lorry's route to contact them. | Police have appealed for witnesses and anyone with information about the lorry's route to contact them. |
| The National Crime Agency said it had sent officers to assist and identify any "organised crime groups who may have played a part". | The National Crime Agency said it had sent officers to assist and identify any "organised crime groups who may have played a part". |
| A spokesman for the Bulgarian foreign affairs ministry said the truck was registered in the country under the name of a company owned by an Irish citizen. | A spokesman for the Bulgarian foreign affairs ministry said the truck was registered in the country under the name of a company owned by an Irish citizen. |
| He said it was "highly unlikely" the deceased were Bulgarians. | He said it was "highly unlikely" the deceased were Bulgarians. |
| At the scene | |
| By Ed Thomas, special correspondent, BBC News, Grays | |
| Police officers bowed their heads in silence as the lorry was slowly moved from the industrial estate with all 39 people still inside the container. | |
| I've seen senior detectives visibly upset at what they've witnessed here. | |
| Detectives said their priority now was providing all the victims with dignity and respect as they try to identify them and inform their loved ones. | |
| Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was an "unimaginable tragedy and truly heartbreaking". | Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was an "unimaginable tragedy and truly heartbreaking". |
| Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, he said: "I know that the thoughts and prayers of all members will be with those who lost their lives and their loved ones. | Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, he said: "I know that the thoughts and prayers of all members will be with those who lost their lives and their loved ones. |
| "I'm receiving regular updates. The Home Office will work closely with Essex Police as we establish exactly what has happened." | "I'm receiving regular updates. The Home Office will work closely with Essex Police as we establish exactly what has happened." |
| During Thurrock Council's full council meeting, councillor James Halden said the authority would put in place any support enforcement agencies needed. | During Thurrock Council's full council meeting, councillor James Halden said the authority would put in place any support enforcement agencies needed. |
| The Conservative councillor urged people not to speculate about what may have happened and said there was a book of condolences for members of the public to sign in the civic offices. | The Conservative councillor urged people not to speculate about what may have happened and said there was a book of condolences for members of the public to sign in the civic offices. |
| Tricky task of catching the people smugglers | Tricky task of catching the people smugglers |
| Since the Calais migrant camps were shut three years ago and security measures were increased at Dover and the Channel Tunnel, people smugglers have increasingly moved to other routes. | Since the Calais migrant camps were shut three years ago and security measures were increased at Dover and the Channel Tunnel, people smugglers have increasingly moved to other routes. |
| Asked which ports are being used, the National Crime Agency told me: "All of them." | Asked which ports are being used, the National Crime Agency told me: "All of them." |
| More dangerous methods are being used to get human cargo through. | More dangerous methods are being used to get human cargo through. |
| The most common one is being hidden in the back of a lorry, but increasingly commercial shipping containers are being used, sometimes even refrigerated ones of the type seen on the back of the truck in Essex. | The most common one is being hidden in the back of a lorry, but increasingly commercial shipping containers are being used, sometimes even refrigerated ones of the type seen on the back of the truck in Essex. |
| Risks are substantial for the migrants, who can pay £10,000 or more for a space on these vehicles. | Risks are substantial for the migrants, who can pay £10,000 or more for a space on these vehicles. |
| Read more: Tricky task of catching the people smugglers | Read more: Tricky task of catching the people smugglers |
| How many migrants have died in transit? | How many migrants have died in transit? |
| The number of migrants who die in transit has been recorded by the UN since 2014. | The number of migrants who die in transit has been recorded by the UN since 2014. |
| Since then, five bodies of suspected migrants have been found in lorries or containers in the UK: | Since then, five bodies of suspected migrants have been found in lorries or containers in the UK: |
| Data was not collected in the same way before the migrant crisis began in 2014, but such deaths are not new. | Data was not collected in the same way before the migrant crisis began in 2014, but such deaths are not new. |
| In 2000, 58 Chinese migrants were found suffocated to death in a lorry at Dover. | In 2000, 58 Chinese migrants were found suffocated to death in a lorry at Dover. |
| In 2015, the bodies of 71 people were found in an abandoned lorry on an Austrian motorway. Police suspected the vehicle was part of a Bulgarian-Hungarian human trafficking operation. | In 2015, the bodies of 71 people were found in an abandoned lorry on an Austrian motorway. Police suspected the vehicle was part of a Bulgarian-Hungarian human trafficking operation. |
| Essex Police has set up a casualty bureau for anyone concerned about relatives to call. | Essex Police has set up a casualty bureau for anyone concerned about relatives to call. |
| The British Red Cross has confirmed staff and volunteers were helping "those dealing with this terrible tragedy". | The British Red Cross has confirmed staff and volunteers were helping "those dealing with this terrible tragedy". |
| Are you in the area? If it is safe for you to do so please get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in the area? If it is safe for you to do so please get in touch 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: | 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: | Or use the form below: |