UK - 39 bodies found in lorry, Essex, 23 October 2019

[HayLouise]

11:57

Action to be taken against any organised crime groups involved

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has said that it will be trying to identify organised crime groups who might have played a role in the deaths of the 39 people.

A statement said: “We are aware of this tragic incident which is now the subject of a murder investigation being led by Essex Police and we have deployed NCA officers to assist.

“We are working with partners including Essex Police and Immigration Enforcement to provide specialist support to urgently identify and take action against any organised crime groups who might have played a role in causing these deaths.”

Live updates as NI man arrested after 39 bodies found in lorry

 

[HayLouise]

11:58KEY EVENT

Footage shows investigation where 39 people found dead inside container

Police at the scene in Grays (Image: Edward Starr Photographer/Essex Live)
Footage from Thurrock shows the industrial estate where 39 people were found dead inside a lorry container.

See the footage by clicking here.

Live updates as NI man arrested after 39 bodies found in lorry

 

[jamjim]

Posted at 12:0512:05
What we know so far

• The bodies of 39 people - thought to be 38 adults and one teenager - were found at an industrial estate in Grays in the early hours of Wednesday morning. There were no survivors
• A 25-year-old man from Northern Ireland was arrested and was being questioned on suspicion of murder
• Essex Police said the vehicle travelled from Bulgaria and entered the British mainland via Holyhead in Wales on Saturday
• The force has not identified where the victims are from and said identifying them was "our number one priority"
• Prime Minister Boris Johnson has reacted on Twitter and said he was "appalled by this tragic incident"

39 bodies found in Essex container: Latest updates - BBC News

 

[HayLouise]

12:08

Forensics continue their investigations in Thurrock

Forensics at the scene at the Waterglade Industrial Estate in Thurrock (Image: Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Forensics at the scene at the Waterglade Industrial Estate in Thurrock (Image: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)

Forensics at the scene at the Waterglade Industrial Estate in Thurrock (Image: Aaron Chown/PA Wire)

Forensics at the scene at the Waterglade Industrial Estate in Thurrock (Image: Leon Neal/Getty Images)


Live updates as NI man arrested after 39 bodies found in lorry

 

[HayLouise]

12:11

What we know as of noon today and what's next?

It has nearly been 12 hours since the tragic discovery that 39 people had been found dead in a lorry.

Of those 39, one is thought to be a teenager.

Police have launched one of the biggest murder investigations the country has ever seen and forensic officers are working to gather evidence on the industrial site in Grays.

Essex Police Deputy Chief Constable Pippa Mills has made a statement on the steps of Grays police statement.

In it, she explained that officers had not identified where the victims are from or their identities, and warned it will be a “lengthy process”.

What’s next?

We expect to be taken within the cordon by Essex Police, a respectable distance from the lorry.

We will be gathering reactions from around the county as Grays is pushed into the eyes of the national media.

It is not clear when the road will reopen.

Live updates as NI man arrested after 39 bodies found in lorry

 

[HayLouise]

12:19

Steve Valdez-Symonds, Amnesty International UK's Refugee and Migrant Rights Director, said:

This is a heartbreaking and horrifying incident.

People who are forced to take dangerous and sometimes fatal passages to reach the UK often do so because current immigration policies and practices deny them safe and legal options.

As the police investigation continues, our thoughts remain with the families and friends of those affected by this awful tragedy.

 

[HayLouise]

12:20

Satbir Singh, Chief Executive of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, said:

We are horrified by the news of the deaths of 39 people in horrendous circumstances.

Nobody should be in any doubt that the ultimate responsibility for these deaths lies with government policy which has deliberately closed down safe and legal routes into Britain.

We need more than empty expressions of shock and sadness from Priti Patel and Boris Johnson, we need a commitment to opening safe and legal routes to the UK, and quick decisions on applications from people seeking to make a better life here.

People move, they always have and they always will. Nobody should have to risk their lives to do so.


Live updates as NI man arrested after 39 bodies found in lorry

 

[CoverMeCagney]

This is terrible. Looking at the route it must have taken from Bulgaria to England (via Ireland/NI/Wales?), it would have been a fairly long journey. Desperate to get onto UK soil before 31/10, no doubt.

EDIT just checked and that lorry probably went through 7 or 8 EU countries.

 

[jamjim]

Posted at 12:2812:28
Ireland ready to investigate if lorry passed through
The lorry which was found in Essex this morning is thought to have entered the British mainland via Holyhead in Wales on Saturday.

Leo Varadkar, the Irish premier, has told the Republic's parliament in Dublin that there are "some reports that the truck may have passed through Ireland at some point".

"I think everyone's thoughts in this House are with those who are dead, those who have passed on and their families," he said.

"It is a real terrible and human tragedy, and we will carry out any investigations that are necessary if it's established that the truck did pass through Ireland."

 

[jamjim]

Posted at 12:2912:29
Phoneline for 'concerned relatives'
Essex Police has said identification of the victims was its "number one priority" and has set up a phone line for those worried about relatives.

It is not yet known where the 39 dead people are from, although the lorry they were on was believed to have come from Bulgaria.

39 bodies found in Essex container: Latest updates - BBC News

 

[jamjim]

Can't stop thinking about these people and their poor relatives

 

[HayLouise]

12:31

East of England Ambulance Service statement

The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) responded to a call to Eastern Avenue in Grays in the early hours of this morning (23 October) and sent five ambulances, Hazardous Area Response Teams and a car from the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance.

Unfortunately 39 people had died prior to our arrival.

EEAST will not be making any further comment on this incident.

Live updates as NI man arrested after 39 bodies found in lorry

 

[jamjim]

The conditions they would have likely been living in at the back of that lorry, for potentially up to 5 days doesn't even bear thinking about...

 

[jamjim]

Posted at 12:4512:45
Bulgarian police 'aware of the incident'
The Press Association says police in Bulgaria are "aware of the incident", with a spokeswoman adding that British officers are leading the investigation.

39 bodies found in Essex container: Latest updates - BBC News

 

[HayLouise]

12:31

All 39 people had died before the ambulance service got to the scene

Ambulance crews were unable to even try to save the 39 people within the lorry container.

In a statement, they have revealed that they had all died before they had arrived.

The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) responded to a call to Eastern Avenue in Grays in the early hours of this morning (23 October) and sent five ambulances, Hazardous Area Response Teams and a car from the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance.

Unfortunately 39 people had died prior to our arrival.

EEAST will not be making any further comment on this incident.

Live updates as NI man arrested after 39 bodies found in lorry

 

[HayLouise]

12:46KEY EVENT

Police reveal next steps of investigation after 39 people found dead in lorry

DCC Pippa Mills briefs members of the media (Image: Chris Cook/Essex Live)

Essex Police have said today is an ‘absolute tragedy and a very sad day’ after 39 people were found dead in a lorry container.

Earlier today (Wednesday, October 23) the shocking news was confirmed by police after the discovery was made in Grays, Thurrock.

At a press conference outside Grays Police Station, Deputy Chief Constable Pippa Mills told a crowd of journalists that they were called to the scene at around 1.40am.

Read the full statement from DCC Pippa Mills by clicking here.

Live updates as NI man arrested after 39 bodies found in lorry

 

[HayLouise]

12:48

Hundreds react to Katie Hopkins shocking tweet after 39 found dead

Forensics at the scene in Grays after 39 people were found dead (Image: Edward Starr Photographer/Essex Live)

Hundreds have reacted to a tweet written by columnist Katie Hopkins after 39 people were found dead in a lorry container in Grays.

Ambulance crews discovered the bodies at Waterglade Industrial Park on Eastern Avenue shortly after 1.40am and Essex Police were called to the scene.

Since news broke of the tragic incident, Katie Hopkins claimed that the deaths were as the result of an ‘open border’ policy.

Read the full story here.

Live updates as NI man arrested after 39 bodies found in lorry

 

[HayLouise]

12:51

What should you do if you're concerned about your relatives?

Essex Police have set up a casualty bureau for the public to call if they are concerned about relatives following this incident.

The Casualty Bureau Numbers are 0800 056 0944 for callers living in the UK, or 0207 158 0010 for callers dialling from outside the UK.

Anyone who has any information about this incident can submit information online at Public Portal

 

[HayLouise]

Essex deaths: Container travelled from Belfast to Dublin before going to England - reports - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

 

[CoverMeCagney]

Essex deaths: Container travelled from Belfast to Dublin before going to England - reports - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

Even stranger that it went to NI first (and a longer journey from mainland Europe, by sea)