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Essex lorry deaths: What we know Essex lorry deaths: What we know
(about 13 hours later)
The bodies of 39 people were found in a lorry container in Essex in eastern England on 23 October.The bodies of 39 people were found in a lorry container in Essex in eastern England on 23 October.
Four people, including the driver, have been arrested and a murder investigation has been launched. The driver has been arrested and charged with their manslaughter, and three other people are under arrest on suspicion of manslaughter and conspiracy to traffic people.
Essex Police said they were working "to piece together the circumstances of this horrific event" - the largest murder investigation in the force's history. Essex Police said they were working "to piece together the circumstances of this horrific event" which they described at the time as the largest murder investigation in the force's history.
Here's what we know so far about the discovery.Here's what we know so far about the discovery.
Who were the victims?Who were the victims?
Initially, Essex police said in a statement they believed all 39 victims - eight women and 31 men - to be Chinese nationals. All eight women and 31 men are thought to be have been adults except one "young adult" woman who, police previously said, may have been a teenager.
All were thought to be adults except one "young adult" woman, who police previously said may have been a teenager. Police initially believed the victims to be Chinese nationals but their efforts to identify them are now focusing on the Vietnamese community.
However, the BBC now understands some those on board may have been from Vietnam.
Pham Tra My, 26, sent distressed messages to family on Tuesday night. "I am dying, I can't breathe," the text read. She has not been heard from since.Pham Tra My, 26, sent distressed messages to family on Tuesday night. "I am dying, I can't breathe," the text read. She has not been heard from since.
Her family say they paid £30,000 to people smugglers. Her last known location was Belgium.Her family say they paid £30,000 to people smugglers. Her last known location was Belgium.
Vietnam's embassy in London said it has contacted Essex police about the missing woman. Vietnam's embassy in London said it had contacted Essex police about the missing woman.
Families of two other Vietnamese - a 26-year-old man and 19-year-old woman - have also spoken to the BBC. They also have fears their relatives may have been on board.Families of two other Vietnamese - a 26-year-old man and 19-year-old woman - have also spoken to the BBC. They also have fears their relatives may have been on board.
VietHome, an organisation that represents the Vietnamese community in the UK said it had received photos of nearly 20 people reported missing, since the lorry was discovered. VietHome, an organisation that represents the Vietnamese community in the UK said it had received photos of nearly 20 people reported missing since the lorry was discovered.
How did the tragedy come to light?How did the tragedy come to light?
The police said they had received the first reports about bodies found in a lorry at the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays just before 01:40 local time (00:40 GMT) on Wednesday. The town is about 15km (nine miles) east of London. The police said they had received the first reports about bodies found in a lorry at the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays just before 01:40 local time (00:40 GMT) on Wednesday 23 October. The town is about 15km (nine miles) east of London.
The bodies were discovered by ambulance staff. It is not yet known who gave them the tip-off Ambulance staff found the bodies. It is not yet known who alerted them.
Police began the process of moving the bodies on Thursday. Eleven victims were taken by private ambulance from the Port of Tilbury to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford.Police began the process of moving the bodies on Thursday. Eleven victims were taken by private ambulance from the Port of Tilbury to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford.
All of the dead will undergo a coroner's examination to establish the cause of death.All of the dead will undergo a coroner's examination to establish the cause of death.
Police will then attempt to identify each individual, but have warned this will be a "substantial operation" and they cannot estimate how long it will take. Police will then attempt to identify each individual but have warned this will be a "substantial operation" and they cannot estimate how long it will take.
Who has been arrested?Who has been arrested?
A man was detained at Stansted Airport on Friday on suspicion of manslaughter and conspiracy to traffic people. He is aged 48 and is from Northern Ireland. Lorry driver Maurice Robinson, 25, has been charged with the manslaughter of the 39 victims as well as people trafficking, immigration and money laundering offences, Essex Police say.
Essex police earlier announced on Friday that they had arrested a man and a woman, both aged 38. The couple, from Warrington, were held on suspicion of conspiracy to traffic people and 39 counts of manslaughter. Mr Robinson, of Laurel Drive, Craigavon, Northern Ireland, is due before Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Monday.
This followed the arrest of the lorry driver on Wednesday, on suspicion of murder. He was named locally as Mo Robinson, 25, from the Portadown area of County Armagh, Northern Ireland. Three others, a man and a woman, both 38, from Warrington, Cheshire, and a 48-year-old man from Northern Ireland, remain in police custody.
He remains in custody after police were granted an extra 24 hours to question him on Thursday. All three were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and conspiracy to traffic people.
Three properties in Northern Ireland have been raided and the National Crime Agency (NCA) is working to establish if "organised crime groups" were involved. A man in his 20s arrested by Irish police in Dublin was said to be "of interest" to the Essex Police investigation.
What about the lorry and the trailer?What about the lorry and the trailer?
GPS data shows the refrigerated container trailer crossed back and forth between the UK and Europe in the days before it was found.GPS data shows the refrigerated container trailer crossed back and forth between the UK and Europe in the days before it was found.
It was leased from the company Global Trailer Rentals on 15 October. The company said it was "entirely unaware that the trailer was to be used in the manner in which it appears to have been".It was leased from the company Global Trailer Rentals on 15 October. The company said it was "entirely unaware that the trailer was to be used in the manner in which it appears to have been".
Essex Police said the tractor unit (the front part of the lorry) had entered the UK via Holyhead - an Irish Sea port in Wales - on Sunday 20 October, having travelled over from Dublin.Essex Police said the tractor unit (the front part of the lorry) had entered the UK via Holyhead - an Irish Sea port in Wales - on Sunday 20 October, having travelled over from Dublin.
Police believe the tractor unit collected the trailer in Purfleet on the River Thames and left the port shortly after 01:05 on Thursday. Police were called to the industrial park where the bodies were discovered about half an hour later.Police believe the tractor unit collected the trailer in Purfleet on the River Thames and left the port shortly after 01:05 on Thursday. Police were called to the industrial park where the bodies were discovered about half an hour later.
Temperatures in refrigerated units can be as low as -25C (-13F). The lorry now is at a secure site in Essex.Temperatures in refrigerated units can be as low as -25C (-13F). The lorry now is at a secure site in Essex.
Early reports had suggested the lorry may have arrived from Bulgaria but its government has since clarified that while the tractor unit was registered there in 2017 it had not entered the country since.Early reports had suggested the lorry may have arrived from Bulgaria but its government has since clarified that while the tractor unit was registered there in 2017 it had not entered the country since.
How many migrants have died in transit in the UK?How many migrants have died in transit in the UK?
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 European migrant crisis began in 2014, but such deaths are not new.Data was not collected in the same way before the European migrant crisis began in 2014, but such deaths are not new.