Police have released little information so far about who the victims are.
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All of the 39 people found dead in the back of a lorry in Essex were Chinese, and eight were women, police have confirmed.
The bodies were discovered in the refrigerated trailer in Grays, Essex, on Wednesday. The Chinese authorities have confirmed the nationalities of the victims.
Essex Police said on Thursday: “We have since confirmed that eight of the deceased are women and 31 are men and all are believed to be Chinese nationals.
“Of these, 38 are believed to be adults, and one is a young adult woman. We previously reported that she may have been a teenager.”
Police are still questioning a 25-year-old man from Northern Ireland on suspicion of murder. The police will not confirm the identity of the man, although they did state that three properties in County Armagh were raided this morning.
Police are still investigating organised crime gangs that may have been involved.
The discovery echoes one in 2000 when the bodies of 58 Chinese illegal immigrants who had paid a criminal gang to be smuggled into the UK were found in a sealed, airless container in Dover.
The deaths follow warnings from the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Border Force of the increased risk of people-smuggling via Belgium and into quieter ports such as Purfleet.
The NCA previously said it had a “greater focus” on rising smuggler numbers in Belgium after the closure of a migrant camp, and a Border Force assessment highlighted Zeebrugge as being among “key ports of embarkation for clandestine arrivals”.
The NCA has also warned that criminal networks are suspected to have started targeting quieter ports on the east and south coasts of the UK as well as the main Channel crossing between Calais and Dover.
The 39 bodies have been moved to nearby Tilbury Docks to be recovered.
Home Secretary Priti Patel had a meeting with Essex Police on Thursday morning to receive an update on the investigation.
Meanwhile, councillors opened a book of condolence in Grays.
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HeadlineEssex lorry deaths: All 39 people found dead were Chinese nationals, police confirm
Short HeadlineAll 39 lorry death victims were Chinese
StandfirstPolice are still questioning a Northern Irish man in connection with the murders.
All of the 39 people found dead in the back of a lorry in Essex were Chinese, and eight were women, police have confirmed.
The bodies were discovered in the refrigerated trailer in Grays, Essex, on Wednesday. The Chinese authorities have confirmed the nationalities of the victims.
Essex Police said on Thursday: “We have since confirmed that eight of the deceased are women and 31 are men and all are believed to be Chinese nationals.
“Of these, 38 are believed to be adults, and one is a young adult woman. We previously reported that she may have been a teenager.”
Police are still questioning a 25-year-old man from Northern Ireland on suspicion of murder. The police will not confirm the identity of the man, although they did state that three properties in County Armagh were raided this morning.
Police are still investigating organised crime gangs that may have been involved.
The discovery echoes one in 2000 when the bodies of 58 Chinese illegal immigrants who had paid a criminal gang to be smuggled into the UK were found in a sealed, airless container in Dover.
The deaths follow warnings from the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Border Force of the increased risk of people-smuggling via Belgium and into quieter ports such as Purfleet.
The NCA previously said it had a “greater focus” on rising smuggler numbers in Belgium after the closure of a migrant camp, and a Border Force assessment highlighted Zeebrugge as being among “key ports of embarkation for clandestine arrivals”.
The NCA has also warned that criminal networks are suspected to have started targeting quieter ports on the east and south coasts of the UK as well as the main Channel crossing between Calais and Dover.
The 39 bodies have been moved to nearby Tilbury Docks to be recovered.
Home Secretary Priti Patel had a meeting with Essex Police on Thursday morning to receive an update on the investigation.
Meanwhile, councillors opened a book of condolence in Grays.
