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

[HayLouise]

24 October 2019

Essex lorry deaths: Belgian port Zeebrugge identified as smuggling hot spot in 2016

The Belgian port city where the container in which 39 people were found dead is thought to have travelled from was identified as a people smuggling hot spot three years ago, it has emerged.

Zeebrugge was highlighted as a key embarking point for "clandestine arrivals" in a 2016 UK Border Force threat assessment, and warnings about migrants using it to get to Britain have been raised repeatedly since then.


The container found at Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays in the early hours of Wednesday is thought to have been brought into Zeebrugge the afternoon before - and then arrived in Purfleet at around midnight.

Purfleet was also identified back in 2016 as one of the less busy UK ports being used by criminal smuggling gangs, forced to pursue alternatives due to improved controls and security at Calas and Coquelles in France.

At the time, the National Crime Agency (NCA) - which is assisting the police investigation into what happened to the victims found in Grays - said the use of lorries and containers by people traffickers was a "high priority".

(more at link...)

Essex lorry deaths: Belgian port Zeebrugge identified as smuggling hot spot in 2016

 

[HayLouise]

1:15pm

The community of Laurelvale in Co Armagh, where Mo Robinson's parents live, was said to be in "complete shock" in the wake of his arrest on suspicion of the murder of the 39 Chinese nationals found dead in a refrigeration container at an industrial park in Grays.

Friends and relatives are rallying round the well-respected family.

Mr Robinson is understood to no longer live with his parents and moved to a house on the outskirts of nearby Markethill, also in Armagh, recently.

Police have searched three properties in Co Armagh, one of which was the semi-detached family home.

This morning, a neighbour in Mullaghbrack Road, just outside Markethill, said Mr Robinson had only been living in the house for a few months.

The neighbour said he had never spoken to Mr Robinson but had noticed the red lorry unit parked beside the house.

Live updates as mass murder investigation enters second day

 

[Cryptic]

Very possible that the driver picked up the unit without any knowledge of what was on it and may not have been transporting the unit a long time, only a small portion of the journey. IMO,

I agree with the possibility that he was only transporting the victims on the final leg of their journey.

As for not having any knowledge, he evidently opened the container at a strange time and place- then made a "discovery". My guess is that he was shocked by the deaths, but not by the presence of the people.

 

[CSIDreamer]

When is the 48 hour hold time up for MR? They've got to be getting close to needing to formally charge him or let him go.

18 hours or so?

 

[HayLouise]

1:17pm

The neighbour said: "If it had been a car I wouldn't have noticed it, but the fact it was dominant beside that property, you tended to notice it."

The Robinson family are well known in the area and are heavily involved with local amateur football club Laurelvale FC.

1:19pm

The dog-loving trucker, who attended Southern Regional College, in Co Armagh, is known to have worn a cowboy style hat when at the wheel.

Paul Berry, a councillior who has been in touch with the family, said: "The local community is hoping that he has been caught up innocently in this matter but that's in the hands of Essex Police, and we will leave it in their professional hands to try to catch the perpetrators of this."

1:27pm

The Bishop of Bradwell, The Right Reverend John Perumbalath has issued a statement after the tragic events of yesterday morning.

He said the deaths are a symptom of "the failure of the wider human family and governments" to provide safety to the world's most vulnerable and displaced people."

Live updates as mass murder investigation enters second day

 

[HayLouise]

1:30pm

Essex Police bosses have signed a book of condolences which was opened at the civic offices in Grays.

It is now open to members of the public.

1:31pm

The Bishop added: “I am really saddened at the horrific news that a lorry container with the bodies of 39 people was found at Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays yesterday morning.

"This is really a heart breaking news and our thoughts and prayers are with all the loved ones and families of those who lost their lives in this tragic way.

"I can’t imagine what it must have been for these members of our human family to risk their lives by choosing to get in to a closed container operated by a criminal gang.

"This and similar tragedies in the recent past are a symptom of a deeper problem – namely the failure of the wider human family and governments in providing safety to the most vulnerable and displaced people among us."

He added: "I wish and pray that no one would ever have to undertake a journey to their death like this and that we, as global family, learn how to make life safer for everyone.”

Live updates as mass murder investigation enters second day

 

[HayLouise]

When is the 48 hour hold time up for MR? They've got to be getting close to needing to formally charge him or let him go.

18 hours or so?

Wondering this also - if police were called 1:40am and he was arrested immediately - it will be tonight after midnight MOO ?

 

[CSIDreamer]

Wondering this also - if police were called 1:40am and he was arrested immediately - it will be tonight after midnight MOO ?

That's what I'm thinking.

ETA: I'm just not sure what day or time it is there. I'm going by timestamps.

 

[Sera]

Wondering this also - if police were called 1:40am and he was arrested immediately - it will be tonight after midnight MOO ?

Remember though that it's possible they'll end up holding him for up to 96 hours because the arrest is suspicion of murder.

 

[CSIDreamer]

Remember though that it's possible they'll end up holding him for up to 96 hours because the arrest is suspicion of murder.

Oh I missed the extra hold time. Thank you!

 

[HayLouise]

That's what I'm thinking.

ETA: I'm just not sure what day or time it is there. I'm going by timestamps.

Currently 1:40pm!

 

[Noseyjosie]

I agree with the possibility that he was only transporting the victims on the final leg of their journey.

As for not having any knowledge, he evidently opened the container at a strange time and place- then made a "discovery". My guess is that he was shocked by the deaths, but not by the presence of the people.

Sorry but if that's the case why would he call for ambulances? Why not quietly close the trailer doors and carry on with the journey until either he can drop off the trailer where arranged, or dump the bodies? Why implicate himself? Surely if he's aware that he's carrying 39 people then he'd be contacting the person who is paying him to say they're dead?
JMO but I don't see any benefit to him of calling emergency services in that case, only a whole lot of trouble.

 

[Mrs Marple]

Sorry but if that's the case why would he call for ambulances? Why not quietly close the trailer doors and carry on with the journey until either he can drop off the trailer where arranged, or dump the bodies? Why implicate himself? Surely if he's aware that he's carrying 39 people then he'd be contacting the person who is paying him to say they're dead?
JMO but I don't see any benefit to him of calling emergency services in that case, only a whole lot of trouble.

Maybe because he's a decent person and thought there was a chance one or more if them could be saved? He may have committed a criminal act (remains to be proven), but that doesn't mean he's a heartless monster.

 

[HayLouise]

1:54pm

Ireland's deputy PM has said Irish police will co-operate fully with the investigation after 39 people were found dead.

Irish police are conducting follow-up inquiries in relation to the registrations and movements of the refrigerated container and the Irish-owned truck.

Irish police were working with Essex Police on Wednesday to establish the facts over whether or not the lorry came from the Irish Republic.

It has since been confirmed the container docked in Purfleet, from Zeebrugge, in Belgium, early on Wednesday, before it was driven to the Grays industrial estate.

An Garda Siochana - the Irish police service - said they were "monitoring the developing investigation in the UK and will provide every assistance possible" to Essex Police and investigators.

Live updates as mass murder investigation enters second day

 

[HayLouise]

DBM

 

[HayLouise]

1:55pm

Irish deputy PM Simon Coveney told the parliament in Dublin: "It is a reminder of just how ruthless and shocking people trafficking is right now.

"This is not simply something that we see in terms of trying to bring refugees from countries like Libya, across the Mediterranean.

"This is an issue that comes right into our own lives, into the UK."

He added: "The investigation that's under way at the moment involves An Garda Siochana also.

"The investigation taking place will have the absolute and full co-operation of An Garda Siochana.

"It is important to say that we do have a national action plan to prevent and combat human trafficking and An Garda Siochana has committed significant resources to investigating and prosecuting in the context of human trafficking and a specialised Garda unit."

Live updates as mass murder investigation enters second day

 

[HayLouise]

2:00pm

The Mayor of Thurrock Terry Piccolo has joined Superintendent Craig Saunders and Chief Inspector Claire Talbot to sign the Book of Condolence in the Council Chamber of Thurrock Council in Grays.

Live updates as mass murder investigation enters second day

 

[Cryptic]

Sorry but if that's the case why would he call for ambulances? Why not quietly close the trailer doors and carry on with the journey until either he can drop off the trailer where arranged, or dump the bodies?

39 bodies might be a little hard for one person to just dump. Likewise, dumping 39 bodies might also be psychologically difficult. In the end, dumping the corpses was probably not a realistic "solution".

Also, even if he delivered the container and walked away, my guess is that the bodies were going to be discovered fast and the police called.

It would not take well equipped and given the magnitude of the tragedy- prioritized Irish and British police long at all to find out who drove the truck from point "A" in Ireland to point "B" in the UK.

In short, the driver was probably going to get asked some very uncomfortable questions very quickly. Upon seeing the bodies, he might of "wanted out"- and then concluded that a good way to minimize his involvement was to report it.

 

[HayLouise]

2:40pm

Police have now confirmed they have secured a warrant of further detention from magistrates to continue questioning Mo Robinson for an extra 24 hours.

Live updates as mass murder investigation enters second day

 

[HayLouise]

2:42pm

Essex Police applied for the extension at Basildon Magistrates' Court this afternoon and the extension will kick in, in the early hours of tomorrow morning.

Deputy Chief Constable Pippa Mills said: “This is an incredibly sensitive and high-profile investigation, and we are working swiftly to gather as full a picture as possible as to how these people lost their lives.

“Our recovery of the bodies is ongoing and the post-mortem and identification processes, which will be lengthy and complex, can then begin.

“Our number one priority is the preserving the dignity of the 39 people who have died and ensuring that we get answers for their loved ones.”

Live updates as mass murder investigation enters second day