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BRITAIN-POLICE-BULGARIA
39 bodies found near London in truck container: UK police
LONDON, Oct 23, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – British police said 39 bodies were found
near London Wednesday in the container of a truck thought to have come from
Bulgaria.
Essex Police said the people were all pronounced dead at the scene in an
industrial park in Grays, east of London. Early indications suggest the
victims are 38 adults and one teenager.
A 25-year-old man from Northern Ireland has been arrested on suspicion of
murder.
“This is a tragic incident where a large number of people have lost their
lives,” Essex Police chief superintendent Andrew Mariner said in a statement.
“Our enquiries are ongoing to establish what has happened.”
The police said they were alerted by the ambulance service shortly before
1:40am (0040 GMT) following the discovery of a truck container with people
inside at the Waterglade Industrial Park.
“We are in the process of identifying the victims. However I anticipate
that this could be a lengthy process,” said Mariner.
“We believe the lorry is from Bulgaria,” said Mariner.
He said it was thought the truck entered Britain on Saturday at Holyhead
on the northwest tip of Wales — one of the main ports for ferries from
Ireland.
“We have arrested the lorry driver in connection with the incident who
remains in police custody as our enquiries continue.”
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1515 hrs