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Ilminster police find suspected illegal immigrants in lorry | Ilminster police find suspected illegal immigrants in lorry |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Fifteen people suspected of being illegal immigrants have been discovered by police in the back of a lorry in Somerset. | |
Police said the lorry was pulled over on the A303 at Ilminster in Somerset, at about 13:00 BST. | Police said the lorry was pulled over on the A303 at Ilminster in Somerset, at about 13:00 BST. |
Paramedics are treating the group for dehydration and immigration authorities have been called in. | Paramedics are treating the group for dehydration and immigration authorities have been called in. |
A German national has been arrested on suspicion of facilitating the unlawful entry of people into the UK. | A German national has been arrested on suspicion of facilitating the unlawful entry of people into the UK. |
Avon and Somerset Police said it had received a number of calls concerning noises coming from the back of a lorry. | Avon and Somerset Police said it had received a number of calls concerning noises coming from the back of a lorry. |
The force initially said 20 people were on board, but later revised it down to 15 in the group - consisting of men, women and a 15-year-old boy - who told officers they were from Eritrea and Kashmir. | |
Supt Geoff Wessell said the occupants had boarded the lorry at Calais - though it is not known how they got there. | Supt Geoff Wessell said the occupants had boarded the lorry at Calais - though it is not known how they got there. |
"They told us they had come across the channel but the lorry had not stopped," he said. | "They told us they had come across the channel but the lorry had not stopped," he said. |
"Although the lorry was a refrigerated one it was not switched on so the people were very hot and distressed. | "Although the lorry was a refrigerated one it was not switched on so the people were very hot and distressed. |
"We gave them food and water and paramedics checked them over before we took them to a place of safety to be interviewed. | "We gave them food and water and paramedics checked them over before we took them to a place of safety to be interviewed. |
"They were heading towards the South West, [to a place] near Exeter." | "They were heading towards the South West, [to a place] near Exeter." |
South Western Ambulance Service said none of the group were taken to hospital and all were treated at the scene. | South Western Ambulance Service said none of the group were taken to hospital and all were treated at the scene. |
The lorry is owned by Thermotraffic but the firm but said it was unable to confirm where the vehicle was going or where it had come from. | The lorry is owned by Thermotraffic but the firm but said it was unable to confirm where the vehicle was going or where it had come from. |