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/world-europe-50159748

The article has changed 33 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 31 Version 32
Essex lorry deaths: What we know Essex lorry deaths: What we know
(6 days 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.
The driver has been charged with their manslaughter. Three other people who were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and conspiracy to traffic people have been released on bail.The driver has been charged with their manslaughter. Three other people who were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and conspiracy to traffic people have been released on bail.
Two brothers from Northern Ireland are also being sought by police on suspicion of manslaughter and people trafficking.Two brothers from Northern Ireland are also being sought by police on suspicion of manslaughter and people trafficking.
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.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?
All eight women and 31 men are thought to have been adults except one "young adult" woman who, police previously said may have been a teenager.All eight women and 31 men are thought to have been 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. Police initially believed the victims to be Chinese nationals but they have now said they believe they were all from Vietnam.
Pham Thi Tra My, 26, sent distressed messages to family on the evening of 22 October. "I am dying, I can't breathe," the text read. She has not been heard from since.Pham Thi Tra My, 26, sent distressed messages to family on the evening of 22 October. "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.
Others feared to be among the 39 victims are Nguyen Dinh Luong, 20, and Nguyen Dinh Tu.Others feared to be among the 39 victims are Nguyen Dinh Luong, 20, and Nguyen Dinh Tu.
Family members of Le Van Ha, 30, are also worried after he left his young son and pregnant wife behind to travel to the UK.Family members of Le Van Ha, 30, are also worried after he left his young son and pregnant wife behind to travel to the UK.
His father Le Minh Tuan says the family have "nothing left" after mortgaging their land to fund the £20,000 journey.His father Le Minh Tuan says the family have "nothing left" after mortgaging their land to fund the £20,000 journey.
In Vietnam, relatives are worried for 19-year-old Bui Thi Nhung. The teenager is thought to be the youngest of those who died.In Vietnam, relatives are worried for 19-year-old Bui Thi Nhung. The teenager is thought to be the youngest of those who died.
A friend of Tran Thi Tho, 21, fears she may also be among the victims. The friend, who lives in Glasgow, did not want to be identified but told the BBC he had been due to meet up with her when she arrived in the UK.A friend of Tran Thi Tho, 21, fears she may also be among the victims. The friend, who lives in Glasgow, did not want to be identified but told the BBC he had been due to meet up with her when she arrived in the UK.
VietHome, an organisation that represents the Vietnamese community in the UK said it had passed on the pictures of almost 20 people who have been reported missing to detectives.VietHome, an organisation that represents the Vietnamese community in the UK said it had passed on the pictures of almost 20 people who have been reported missing to detectives.
The Vietnamese embassy in London has set up a contact line for people to get in touch.The Vietnamese embassy in London has set up a contact line for people to get in touch.
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 23 October. 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 23 October. The town is about 15km (nine miles) east of London.
Ambulance staff found the bodies. It is not yet known who alerted them.Ambulance staff found the bodies. It is not yet known who alerted them.
The bodies have all been moved to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford where they are being examined to establish cause of death.The bodies have all been moved to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford where they are being examined to establish cause of death.
Work is also on going to identify them in what police called the "largest mass fatality victim identification process in the history of Essex Police".Work is also on going to identify them in what police called the "largest mass fatality victim identification process in the history of Essex Police".
A force spokesman said officers were using the Interpol Disaster Victim Identification Standards to find out who the people were, which includes checking fingerprints and DNA.A force spokesman said officers were using the Interpol Disaster Victim Identification Standards to find out who the people were, which includes checking fingerprints and DNA.
"Both Essex Police and [Essex coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray] are committed to working as quickly as possible to identify people and repatriate them to their families," he said."Both Essex Police and [Essex coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray] are committed to working as quickly as possible to identify people and repatriate them to their families," he said.
Police are also collecting evidence from the victims with more than 500 items collected so far, including mobile phones which need to be examined.Police are also collecting evidence from the victims with more than 500 items collected so far, including mobile phones which need to be examined.
"As in any instance where a mass fatality has unfolded, we cannot predict how long this process will take," the spokesman said."As in any instance where a mass fatality has unfolded, we cannot predict how long this process will take," the spokesman said.
Who has been arrested?Who has been arrested?
Lorry driver Maurice Robinson has been charged with the manslaughter of the 39 victims as well as people trafficking, immigration and money laundering offences.Lorry driver Maurice Robinson has been charged with the manslaughter of the 39 victims as well as people trafficking, immigration and money laundering offences.
The 25-year-old, of Laurel Drive in Craigavon, Northern Ireland, appeared via video-link before Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on 28 October where he was remanded in custody.The 25-year-old, of Laurel Drive in Craigavon, Northern Ireland, appeared via video-link before Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on 28 October where he was remanded in custody.
He is next due to appear at the Old Bailey on 25 November.He is next due to appear at the Old Bailey on 25 November.
A 46-year-old man from Northern Ireland, who was arrested at Stansted Airport on Friday, and Joanna and Thomas Maher, both 38, from Warrington, Cheshire, have been bailed after being held on suspicion of manslaughter and conspiracy to traffic people. Police have also started extradition proceedings against Eamonn Harrison, 22, from Northern Ireland, who was arrested on a European Arrest Warrant in Dublin.
Another driver, who brought the container to Zeebrugge before it crossed the Channel, was arrested at the port of Dublin on Saturday, according to the Belgian prosecutor's office. He has been charged with 39 counts of manslaughter as well as human trafficking and immigration offences.
Essex Police said the man in his 20s had been held over an unconnected matter, but was "a person of interest" in their investigation. A 46-year-old man from Northern Ireland, who was arrested at Stansted Airport and Joanna and Thomas Maher, both 38, from Warrington, Cheshire, have been bailed after being held on suspicion of manslaughter and conspiracy to traffic people.
Ronan Hughes, 40, and Christopher Hughes, 34, from Armagh in Northern Ireland, are also being sought. Ronan Hughes, 40, and Christopher Hughes, 34, from Armagh in Northern Ireland, are also being sought for the same offences.
Police believe the Hughes brothers are in Northern Ireland but say they have links to the Republic of Ireland. Officers have spoken to Ronan Hughes on the phone but said they need to speak to the brothers in person.
"Talking to Ronan and Christopher is crucial to our investigation," Det Ch Insp Daniel Stoten said, as he urged the brothers to hand themselves in.
They have links to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and connections with road haulage and shipping industries.
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 Wednesday 23. 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 Wednesday 23. 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.