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Essex lorry deaths: Appeal to Vietnamese over victims' identities Essex lorry deaths: Appeal to Vietnamese over victims' identities
(32 minutes later)
Efforts to identify 39 bodies found inside a lorry are focusing on the Vietnamese community, police have said, as officers seek to establish whether a "wider conspiracy" was involved.Efforts to identify 39 bodies found inside a lorry are focusing on the Vietnamese community, police have said, as officers seek to establish whether a "wider conspiracy" was involved.
Eight women and 31 men were discovered in Grays, Essex, on Wednesday.Eight women and 31 men were discovered in Grays, Essex, on Wednesday.
Det Ch Insp Martin Pasmore said he remained "open-minded" about the nationalities of the victims.Det Ch Insp Martin Pasmore said he remained "open-minded" about the nationalities of the victims.
A fifth person has been arrested in connection with the deaths, while four suspects remain in custody.A fifth person has been arrested in connection with the deaths, while four suspects remain in custody.
An Garda Siochana (Irish Police) said they had detained a man in his 20s who was of "interest" to Essex Police as part of its investigation. The victims - whom police initially believed to be Chinese nationals - were inside a refrigerated trailer which came to the UK via the port of Zeebrugge.
The arrest, at Dublin Port, was in relation to "an outstanding court order" connected to an offence in the Republic of Ireland, they added. Essex Police said there had been a "large amount of engagement" from the Vietnamese population since the discovery.
Det Ch Insp Pasmore, who is leading the Essex force's identification efforts, said he was unable to comment on "investigative elements" of the case.
'Massive risk'
However, he said there were "lines of inquiry that are set of course to establish whether or not there are wider conspiracies involved in this".
"We have people coming into the country either being trafficked or as asylum seekers and we know that the borders are very tight and complicated," he said.
"It must be clear that criminals, murderers are taking more and more chances with these vulnerable people and the risk is massive."
Essex Police said there had been a "large amount of engagement" from the Vietnamese population since the discovery of the bodies.
Det Ch Insp Pasmore said he had met the Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK, who vowed to help with the identification process.
The detective also appealed for anyone who fears a relative may have been one of the victims to contact the force.
VietHome, an organisation that represents the Vietnamese community in the UK, said it had received photos of nearly 20 people reported missing.VietHome, an organisation that represents the Vietnamese community in the UK, said it had received photos of nearly 20 people reported missing.
In Vietnam, Father Anthony Dang Huu Nam said he had been told of "more than 100" people who left the Yen Thanh province "on their way to a new life".In Vietnam, Father Anthony Dang Huu Nam said he had been told of "more than 100" people who left the Yen Thanh province "on their way to a new life".
Families from the area believed their relatives were victims of the "tragic journey", he said.Families from the area believed their relatives were victims of the "tragic journey", he said.
Det Ch Insp Pasmore said he was aware there may be people in the UK illegally who are concerned for a relative but are fearful of approaching the police. Det Ch Insp Pasmore, who is leading the Essex force's identification efforts, said the bodies had been removed from the trailer and taken to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford.
"Essex Police will take no action whatsoever against an individual that comes forward," he said. Those inside were carrying "very few" identity documents, leaving officers to rely on fingerprints, DNA and distinguishing features such as tattoos or scars, he said.
"We will do what we can to identify them to see if they have a family member as a victim and to establish the reconciliation of that person and if necessary repatriation." Appealing to the Vietnamese community, Det Ch Insp Pasmore said people in the UK illegally may be concerned for a relative but fearful of approaching the police.
The BBC has also been contacted by Vietnamese families who fear their relatives were among the eight women and 31 men found at an industrial park in Grays on Wednesday. He said Essex Police would "take no action whatsoever" against those who come forward.
They were inside the refrigerated unit which had travelled to the UK from the Belgian port of Zeebrugge. Det Ch Insp Pasmore said he had also met the Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK, who had vowed to help with the identification process.
Essex Police initially said the victims were believed to be Chinese nationals. Addressing a press conference, he said he was unable to comment on "investigative elements" of the case.
VietHome said it began to receive reports of missing people soon after the discovery. Those who have disappeared were aged between 15 and 45, it said. However, he said there were "lines of inquiry that are set of course to establish whether or not there are wider conspiracies involved in this".
One woman's brother told the BBC she had not been heard from since Tuesday, when she sent panicked texts saying she could not breathe. "It must be clear that criminals, murderers are taking more and more chances with these vulnerable people and the risk is massive," he said.
'I'm sorry, mum and dad'
The BBC has also been contacted by Vietnamese families who fear their relatives were among the dead.
The last message from Pham Thi Tra My, 26, was sent to her family at 22:30 BST on Tuesday - two hours before the trailer arrived at the Purfleet terminal from Zeebrugge in Belgium.The last message from Pham Thi Tra My, 26, was sent to her family at 22:30 BST on Tuesday - two hours before the trailer arrived at the Purfleet terminal from Zeebrugge in Belgium.
Her family have shared texts she sent to her parents which, translated, read: "I am really, really sorry, Mum and Dad, my trip to a foreign land has failed.Her family have shared texts she sent to her parents which, translated, read: "I am really, really sorry, Mum and Dad, my trip to a foreign land has failed.
"I am dying, I can't breathe. I love you very much Mum and Dad. I am sorry, Mother.""I am dying, I can't breathe. I love you very much Mum and Dad. I am sorry, Mother."
"We are asking the British police to help investigate so that my sister can be returned to the family," her brother said. Nguyen Dinh Gia, believes his son, Nguyen Dinh Luong, 20 was also among the 39 victims.
'Cruel stage' He said he had not heard from his son since he said he was joining a group in Paris to try and reach the UK last week.
Relatives of Nguyen Dinh Luong, 20, have also said they fear he is among the 39 victims.
His father, Nguyen Dinh Gia, said he had not heard from his son since last week when he said he was joining a group in Paris to try and reach the UK.
"He often called home but I haven't been able to reach him since the last time we talked last week," he said.
Mr Luong's brother, Nguyen Dinh Oanh, wanted to warn others against making similar dangerous journeys.Mr Luong's brother, Nguyen Dinh Oanh, wanted to warn others against making similar dangerous journeys.
He told the BBC's Vietnamese service: "Those who still would like to go abroad, please think carefully, the chance for survival is 50-50.
"My advice to them is stay at home, work hard enough just to make a reasonable living."My advice to them is stay at home, work hard enough just to make a reasonable living.
"We want the money but we value the human life more.""We want the money but we value the human life more."
All 39 bodies have been recovered from the trailer and work is continuing to identify those who died. In Ireland, a man in his 20s considered of "interest" to the Essex Police investigation was arrested in Dublin.
Three people were arrested on Friday on suspicion of manslaughter and conspiracy to traffic people. An Garda Siochana (Irish Police) said they had detained the suspect in relation to "an outstanding court order" connected to an offence in the Republic of Ireland.
Three others were arrested on Friday on suspicion of manslaughter and conspiracy to traffic people.
A 48-year-old man from Northern Ireland was detained at Stansted Airport and a couple from Warrington, Joanna and Thomas Maher, were arrested in Cheshire.A 48-year-old man from Northern Ireland was detained at Stansted Airport and a couple from Warrington, Joanna and Thomas Maher, were arrested in Cheshire.
Before their arrest, the couple denied having anything to do with the lorry and told reporters they sold it last year.Before their arrest, the couple denied having anything to do with the lorry and told reporters they sold it last year.
The driver of the lorry, Mo Robinson, has been held on suspicion of murder since Wednesday.The driver of the lorry, Mo Robinson, has been held on suspicion of murder since Wednesday.
Police have been given extra time to question the 25-year-old of County Armagh.Police have been given extra time to question the 25-year-old of County Armagh.
The trailer arrived in Purfleet on the River Thames from Zeebrugge in Belgium at 00:30 BST on Wednesday.The trailer arrived in Purfleet on the River Thames from Zeebrugge in Belgium at 00:30 BST on Wednesday.
It left the port shortly after 01:05 the same day and the bodies were discovered at Waterglade Industrial Park about 35 minutes later.It left the port shortly after 01:05 the same day and the bodies were discovered at Waterglade Industrial Park about 35 minutes later.
Police in Belgium are trying to trace the route of the trailer and the driver who delivered it to Zeebrugge.Police in Belgium are trying to trace the route of the trailer and the driver who delivered it to Zeebrugge.
"We would like people to be arrested as soon as possible," said a spokesman for the Belgian prosecutor's office."We would like people to be arrested as soon as possible," said a spokesman for the Belgian prosecutor's office.
Bernie Gravett, a former Met officer who now advises the EU on trafficking, said identifying the victims would be a difficult process as those in the container may have been carrying false documents.
"It's a cruel stage for the families, because hundreds if not thousands are currently on those routes, so I appreciate we are getting calls from Vietnam saying my loved one is missing and my loved one may be on that lorry but they could be on another lorry," he said.
The Vietnamese Embassy in London has been in contact with Essex police since Thursday, a spokesman confirmed.
Liu Xiaoming, the Chinese Ambassador to the UK, said China was taking "firm and effective measures against human trafficking".
He called on the international community to "step up co-operation to crackdown on the crime of human trafficking".
The Vietnamese risking it all to get to the UKThe Vietnamese risking it all to get to the UK
By Lucy WilliamsonBy Lucy Williamson
BBC News, northern FranceBBC News, northern France
An hour's drive inland from the French coast, a dozen Vietnamese men nurse tea over a smoking campfire, as they wait for a phone call from the man they call "the boss". An Afghan man, they say, who opens trailers in the lorry-park nearby and shuts them inside.An hour's drive inland from the French coast, a dozen Vietnamese men nurse tea over a smoking campfire, as they wait for a phone call from the man they call "the boss". An Afghan man, they say, who opens trailers in the lorry-park nearby and shuts them inside.
Duc paid €30,000 ($33,200; £25,000) for a prepaid journey from Vietnam to London - via Russia, Poland, Germany and France. It was organised, he says, by a Vietnamese contact back home.Duc paid €30,000 ($33,200; £25,000) for a prepaid journey from Vietnam to London - via Russia, Poland, Germany and France. It was organised, he says, by a Vietnamese contact back home.
"I have some Vietnamese friends in UK, who will help me find jobs when I get there," he told me. "These friends help me get on lorries or container trucks to go across the border.""I have some Vietnamese friends in UK, who will help me find jobs when I get there," he told me. "These friends help me get on lorries or container trucks to go across the border."
Read more of Lucy's story from the camp here.Read more of Lucy's story from the camp here.
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