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Tilbury Docks: Police to question container survivors | Tilbury Docks: Police to question container survivors |
(35 minutes later) | |
Police are hoping to question some of the people found inside a shipping container at a port, as they continue to investigate the death of one man. | Police are hoping to question some of the people found inside a shipping container at a port, as they continue to investigate the death of one man. |
Thirty-five people were discovered on Saturday morning after a freighter arrived at Tilbury Docks from Belgium. | Thirty-five people were discovered on Saturday morning after a freighter arrived at Tilbury Docks from Belgium. |
Essex Police described the men, women and children - all believed to be from the Indian subcontinent - as victims of "people trafficking". | Essex Police described the men, women and children - all believed to be from the Indian subcontinent - as victims of "people trafficking". |
They also launched a "homicide investigation" after the man's death. | They also launched a "homicide investigation" after the man's death. |
Police are working with Interpol and other international authorities to try to establish what happened. | Police are working with Interpol and other international authorities to try to establish what happened. |
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs said it had contacted UK authorities but added that the nationality of the survivors had yet to be established. | |
Lorry 'identified' | Lorry 'identified' |
The discovery was made after the container arrived from the Belgian village of Zeebrugge at about 06:00 BST on Saturday, and "screaming and banging" were heard coming from inside. | The discovery was made after the container arrived from the Belgian village of Zeebrugge at about 06:00 BST on Saturday, and "screaming and banging" were heard coming from inside. |
One man died and the others were taken to hospital suffering from hypothermia and dehydration. | One man died and the others were taken to hospital suffering from hypothermia and dehydration. |
Supt Trevor Roe told a press conference on Saturday: "It is a homicide investigation... we will be looking to see where the origin and the gangs or whoever may [be] involved in this conspiracy to bring these people in this way over to this country. | Supt Trevor Roe told a press conference on Saturday: "It is a homicide investigation... we will be looking to see where the origin and the gangs or whoever may [be] involved in this conspiracy to bring these people in this way over to this country. |
"Clearly we need to try and bring them to justice." | "Clearly we need to try and bring them to justice." |
Police said they were keen to track the container's movements before it was loaded on to the ship. | Police said they were keen to track the container's movements before it was loaded on to the ship. |
Belgian police said they believed the lorry which delivered the container in Zeebrugge had been identified through CCTV footage. | Belgian police said they believed the lorry which delivered the container in Zeebrugge had been identified through CCTV footage. |
Chief Inspector Peter De Waele, from the Belgian police, said: "The Belgian civil police is checking all the images and my colleagues are very, very hopeful that we find the truck who put the container in Zeebrugge. | Chief Inspector Peter De Waele, from the Belgian police, said: "The Belgian civil police is checking all the images and my colleagues are very, very hopeful that we find the truck who put the container in Zeebrugge. |
"I think it is very, very important that we have the identification of that truck and also of the driver." | "I think it is very, very important that we have the identification of that truck and also of the driver." |
It is not known where the container, one of 64 aboard the P&O commercial vessel Norstream, originated, nor where the people inside it were headed. | It is not known where the container, one of 64 aboard the P&O commercial vessel Norstream, originated, nor where the people inside it were headed. |
Many of them have spent the night in a number of hospitals but none is thought to have suffered serious injury. | Many of them have spent the night in a number of hospitals but none is thought to have suffered serious injury. |
Police said they were being held under immigration powers and would be taken to an immigration reception centre near Tilbury. | Police said they were being held under immigration powers and would be taken to an immigration reception centre near Tilbury. |
They said they were planning to interview them through interpreters once they were well enough. | They said they were planning to interview them through interpreters once they were well enough. |
Anthony Steen, chairman of the Human Trafficking Foundation, said: "It shows how desperate people are to improve their economic situation - how desperate they are to leave their own homes, and own countries, and hope to arrive in somewhere that's more accommodating, more kind, and offering them a better quality of life. Usually, they're sadly wrong." | |
Police have set up a "casualty bureau" hotline for anyone concerned about relatives. The numbers are 0800 056 0944 or 0207 158 0010 if dialling from outside the UK. | Police have set up a "casualty bureau" hotline for anyone concerned about relatives. The numbers are 0800 056 0944 or 0207 158 0010 if dialling from outside the UK. |