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Two pregnant women found crammed in container in Essex port 68 people found crammed in containers in Essex port
(35 minutes later)
Two pregnant women were among seven people taken to hospital after being found crammed in a container with dozens of other suspected illegal immigrants at Harwich international port in Essex. Fifteen children were among 68 people found crammed in containers at Harwich international port in Essex.
East of England ambulance service said it assessed all 68 people at the scene after the discovery on Thursday night and seven were taken to Colchester general hospital. There were 15 children among the migrants discovered in the container. Seven people – including two pregnant women – were taken to Colchester general hospital after the suspected illegal immigrants were discovered on Thursday night. East of England ambulance service (EEAST) said it assessed all 68 people at the scene. The stowaways – 35 Afghan nationals, 22 Chinese nationals, 10 people from Vietnam and one Russian – were found after a search by Border Force officials.
A spokesman said: “The patients who were taken to hospital were suffering from abdominal and chest pains and were feeling faint. None are in a life-threatening or serious condition. The remaining 61 were released to the UK Border Agency officials.” An EEAST ambulance service spokesman said: “The patients who were taken to hospital were suffering from abdominal and chest pains and were feeling faint. None are in a life-threatening or serious condition. The remaining 61 were released to the UK Border Force officials.”
The Home Office said four Polish lorry drivers have been arrested on suspicion of immigration offences in relation to the incident. The Home Office said four Polish lorry drivers have been arrested on suspicion of immigration offences in relation to the incident. A spokesman said: “We can confirm Border Force officers discovered 53 adults and 15 children during a proactive search of four lorries which had arrived at Harwich port from Holland on Thursday evening.
The ambulance service spokesman said people of various nationalities were involved. The container is thought to have come from Holland. A spokesman for the port said that, as far as he was aware, the stowaways had been found as part of routine checks being carried out by the Border Force. “Seven of those discovered were taken to hospital as a precaution, before being released. All 68 individuals are now in the care of Border Force. Four Polish nationals, who were driving the vehicles, have been arrested on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration. They have been taken to separate police stations and will now be questioned by the Home Office’s criminal investigations team while inquiries continue.”
Essex Police said in a statement: “The ambulance service contacted police at 10.15pm on Thursday 4 June to reports they had been called to deal with 68 patients who had been discovered in containers on a ferry from the Hook of Holland at Harwich port. Essex police said they were contacted by EEAST at 10.15pm on Thursday but that Border Force was taking the lead as the incident related to immigration offences.
“Essex Police made contact with staff at Border Force, who were already in attendance, and they are taking the lead as the incident relates to immigration offences.” Harwich is a busy freight and passenger port. In February last year, two immigrants, Albanians Artur Doda, 24, and Leonard Isufaj, 27, died after leaping off a passenger ferry into the North Sea to try to swim 500 metres back to shore after being deported from Harwich.
Harwich is a busy freight and passenger port. In February last year two immigrants, Albanians Artur Doda, 24, and Leonard Isufaj, 27, died after leaping off a passenger ferry into the North Sea to try to swim 500 metres back to shore after being deported from Harwich.
They were being sent back to the Hook of Holland after arriving with 13 other stowaways hidden in a lorry on a freight ferry at Harwich five hours previously.They were being sent back to the Hook of Holland after arriving with 13 other stowaways hidden in a lorry on a freight ferry at Harwich five hours previously.
In August last year 35 immigrants were discovered in a container at Tilbury Docks, also in Essex. One of them, 40-year-old Meet Singh Kapoor, from Afghanistan, was found dead. In August last year, 35 immigrants were discovered in a container at Tilbury Docks, also in Essex. One of them, 40-year-old Meet Singh Kapoor, from Afghanistan, was found dead. Later the same month, one person was taken to hospital after 13 people were found in the back of a lorry at the Dartford Crossing in Kent.
Later the same month, one person was taken to hospital after 13 people were found in the back of a lorry at the Dartford Crossing in Kent.
Last month, David Cameron announced plans to make “Britain a less attractive place to come and work illegally”, as figures showed that net migration to Britain surged to 318,000 in 2014.Last month, David Cameron announced plans to make “Britain a less attractive place to come and work illegally”, as figures showed that net migration to Britain surged to 318,000 in 2014.