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| Essex lorry deaths: People found dead were all Vietnamese | Essex lorry deaths: People found dead were all Vietnamese |
| (4 months later) | |
| All 39 people found dead in a refrigerated lorry in Essex were Vietnamese, police have said. | All 39 people found dead in a refrigerated lorry in Essex were Vietnamese, police have said. |
| The victims were found in a container on an industrial estate last week and were initially thought to be Chinese. | The victims were found in a container on an industrial estate last week and were initially thought to be Chinese. |
| But Essex Police said it was now in "direct contact with a number of families in Vietnam and the UK" and the Vietnamese government. | But Essex Police said it was now in "direct contact with a number of families in Vietnam and the UK" and the Vietnamese government. |
| A number of Vietnamese families have previously come forward fearing their loved ones are among the dead. | A number of Vietnamese families have previously come forward fearing their loved ones are among the dead. |
| Pham Thi Tra My, 26, sent her family a message on the night of 22 October - the day before the 39 people were found dead - saying her "trip to a foreign land has failed". | Pham Thi Tra My, 26, sent her family a message on the night of 22 October - the day before the 39 people were found dead - saying her "trip to a foreign land has failed". |
| Post-mortem examinations are being carried out on the 31 men and eight women to establish the cause of death. | Post-mortem examinations are being carried out on the 31 men and eight women to establish the cause of death. |
| Assistant Chief Constable Tim Smith said: "At this time, we believe the victims are Vietnamese nationals, and we are in contact with the Vietnamese Government." | Assistant Chief Constable Tim Smith said: "At this time, we believe the victims are Vietnamese nationals, and we are in contact with the Vietnamese Government." |
| He said police were not in a position to identify any of the victims. | He said police were not in a position to identify any of the victims. |
| The Vietnamese Embassy in London said it was "deeply saddened" and sent its "heartfelt condolences" to the families of the victims. | The Vietnamese Embassy in London said it was "deeply saddened" and sent its "heartfelt condolences" to the families of the victims. |
| "Specific identities of the victims still need to be identified and confirmed by the relevant authorities of Vietnam and UK," it said. | "Specific identities of the victims still need to be identified and confirmed by the relevant authorities of Vietnam and UK," it said. |
| It said it would "closely co-ordinate with the relevant authorities of Vietnam and UK to support the families of the Vietnamese victims, if any, to bring their loved ones home". | It said it would "closely co-ordinate with the relevant authorities of Vietnam and UK to support the families of the Vietnamese victims, if any, to bring their loved ones home". |
| The father of 30-year-old Le Van Ha, who comes from an agricultural part of Vietnam, previously told the BBC he was convinced his son was among the dead. | The father of 30-year-old Le Van Ha, who comes from an agricultural part of Vietnam, previously told the BBC he was convinced his son was among the dead. |
| VietHome, a popular Vietnamese community forum in the UK, said it had passed on the pictures of almost 20 people who have been reported missing to detectives. | VietHome, a popular Vietnamese community forum in the UK, said it had passed on the pictures of almost 20 people who have been reported missing to detectives. |
| Earlier, police in Vietnam's Ha Tinh province said they had charged two unnamed people with "organising or brokering illegal immigration". | Earlier, police in Vietnam's Ha Tinh province said they had charged two unnamed people with "organising or brokering illegal immigration". |
| The driver of the lorry, Maurice Robinson, 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, from Northern Ireland, appeared in court on Monday charged with a string of offences, including 39 counts of manslaughter. |
| Extradition proceedings have also begun against 22-year-old Eamonn Harrison, who was arrested in Dubin on a European Arrest Warrant. | Extradition proceedings have also begun against 22-year-old Eamonn Harrison, who was arrested in Dubin on a European Arrest Warrant. |
| Police are also seeking two brothers from Northern Ireland, Ronan and Christopher Hughes, who are wanted on suspicion of manslaughter and people trafficking. | Police are also seeking two brothers from Northern Ireland, Ronan and Christopher Hughes, who are wanted on suspicion of manslaughter and people trafficking. |