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Essex lorry deaths: Brothers wanted on suspicion of manslaughter | Essex lorry deaths: Brothers wanted on suspicion of manslaughter |
(32 minutes later) | |
Two brothers are wanted on suspicion of manslaughter over 39 people found dead in a lorry in Essex. | Two brothers are wanted on suspicion of manslaughter over 39 people found dead in a lorry in Essex. |
Ronan Hughes, 40, and Christopher Hughes, 34, from Armagh in Northern Ireland, are also wanted by police on suspicion of human trafficking. | Ronan Hughes, 40, and Christopher Hughes, 34, from Armagh in Northern Ireland, are also wanted by police on suspicion of human trafficking. |
The 39 bodies were found in the lorry trailer on an industrial estate in Grays on Wednesday. | The 39 bodies were found in the lorry trailer on an industrial estate in Grays on Wednesday. |
Police believe the Hughes brothers are in Northern Ireland but say they have links to the Republic of Ireland. | Police believe the Hughes brothers are in Northern Ireland but say they have links to the Republic of Ireland. |
The driver of the lorry, Maurice Robinson, also from Northern Ireland, appeared in court on Monday charged with a string of offences, including 39 counts of manslaughter. | The driver of the lorry, Maurice Robinson, also from Northern Ireland, appeared in court on Monday charged with a string of offences, including 39 counts of manslaughter. |
Det Ch Supt Stuart Hooper said: "Finding and speaking to the Hughes brothers is crucial to our investigation. | Det Ch Supt Stuart Hooper said: "Finding and speaking to the Hughes brothers is crucial to our investigation. |
"This is a case where 39 men and women have tragically died and support from the community is going to be vital to help bring those responsible to justice." | "This is a case where 39 men and women have tragically died and support from the community is going to be vital to help bring those responsible to justice." |
It is understood that the Hughes brothers are originally from Co Monaghan but have at least one business address in Northern Ireland. | |
Essex Police said Ronan Hughes also goes by the name Rowan. | |
The force asked for anyone with information about the brothers' whereabouts to contact officers. | |
Three other people arrested - a 38 year-old man, a 38 year-old woman, and a 46 year-old man - have all been released on bail. | Three other people arrested - a 38 year-old man, a 38 year-old woman, and a 46 year-old man - have all been released on bail. |
Another driver, who is suspected of bringing the container to Zeebrugge before it crossed the Channel, was arrested at the port of Dublin on Saturday on unrelated charges. | Another driver, who is suspected of bringing the container to Zeebrugge before it crossed the Channel, was arrested at the port of Dublin on Saturday on unrelated charges. |
Irish police, who are liaising with their Essex counterparts, said the man was the driver of a blue truck seized as part of the ongoing investigations into the 39 deaths. | Irish police, who are liaising with their Essex counterparts, said the man was the driver of a blue truck seized as part of the ongoing investigations into the 39 deaths. |
Police initially believed the 31 men and eight women discovered dead in the refrigerated container in the early hours of Wednesday morning were Chinese. | Police initially believed the 31 men and eight women discovered dead in the refrigerated container in the early hours of Wednesday morning were Chinese. |
But a number of Vietnamese families have come forward fearing their loved ones are among the dead. | But a number of Vietnamese families have come forward fearing their loved ones are among the dead. |
Pham Thi Tra My, 26, sent her family a message on Tuesday night, saying her "trip to a foreign land has failed". | Pham Thi Tra My, 26, sent her family a message on Tuesday night, saying her "trip to a foreign land has failed". |
The BBC understands from Vietnamese government sources that officers from national and provincial police departments are ready to travel to the UK to assist with the inquiry. | The BBC understands from Vietnamese government sources that officers from national and provincial police departments are ready to travel to the UK to assist with the inquiry. |
Vietnamese police have taken DNA samples from the hair and fingernails of some of the relatives of suspected victims to help with the identification process. | Vietnamese police have taken DNA samples from the hair and fingernails of some of the relatives of suspected victims to help with the identification process. |
News agency Reuters said British police had sent documents relating to four of the dead to Vietnamese police. | News agency Reuters said British police had sent documents relating to four of the dead to Vietnamese police. |
It reported that Vietnam's deputy foreign minister Nguyen Quoc Cuong said his country and Britain were "trying to speed up identification of the bodies, but no deadline has been set". | It reported that Vietnam's deputy foreign minister Nguyen Quoc Cuong said his country and Britain were "trying to speed up identification of the bodies, but no deadline has been set". |
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. |
A spokesman for the Essex coroner's office told the BBC: "At this stage work is still ongoing to identify the 39 victims and it is not possible to put a timescale on this. | A spokesman for the Essex coroner's office told the BBC: "At this stage work is still ongoing to identify the 39 victims and it is not possible to put a timescale on this. |
"The coroner will consider matters relating to inquests in due course." | "The coroner will consider matters relating to inquests in due course." |