Investigators are probing the route a Bulgarian lorry took before ending up in Grays, Essex with 39 dead bodies inside.
The lorry’s driver, a 25-year-old man from Northern Ireland, has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Essex Police initially said the truck had entered the UK on Saturday, 19 October, via the port of Holyhead in north Wales, suggesting it had entered by ferry from the Republic of Ireland.
Sky News understands the name of the 25-year-old man arrested in connection with the discovery of 39 bodies in a lorry container in Essex is Mo Robinson who lives near Portadown in County Armagh
— Sky News Breaking (@SkyNewsBreak) October 23, 2019
We have set up a casualty bureau for people to call if they are concerned about relatives following the incident in #Grays.
— Essex Police (@EssexPoliceUK) October 23, 2019
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. pic.twitter.com/hP9GydBFge
But later on Wednesday, 23 October, the police confirmed it had entered the UK from Belgium.
Essex Police said it had actually entered the UK at Purfleet, not far from Grays, from the Belgian port of Zeebrugge.
"After further enquiries, we now believe that the trailer travelled from Zeebrugge into Purfleet, and docked in the Thurrock area shortly after 12:30am this morning," said a police statement.
Shocked & saddened by this utterly tragic incident in Grays. Essex Police has arrested an individual and we must give them the space to conduct their investigations.
— Priti Patel MP (@patel4witham) October 23, 2019
Lorries crossing the channel are one of the most popular routes for people traffickers, who sometimes pay drivers to smuggle migrants in the back of their trucks.
In June 2000 the bodies of 58 Chinese migrants were found in the rear of a lorry at Dover docks.
The following year Dutch lorry driver Perry Wacker, 33, was jailed for 14 years for manslaughter.
