CCTV shows Essex lorry minutes before 39 people found dead inside
Written by News on 23/10/2019
CCTV footage has emerged of a lorry driving towards an Essex industrial estate minutes before 39 bodies were found inside its container.
The images were taken at 1.10am this morning and show the vehicle just around the corner from where the discovery was made a short time later at Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays.
Essex Police were called at 1.40am and arrested the driver, a 25-year-old man, on suspicion of murder.
The man is Mo Robinson, from Portadown in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, Sky News understands. He is still in custody.
Officers say they believe the lorry trailer travelled from Zeebrugge in Belgium to Purfleet, Essex – and then docked in the Thurrock area shortly after 12.30am this morning.
The lorry cab is thought to have originated in Northern Ireland and it left the port in Thurrock with the container soon after 1.05am.
Police had earlier claimed the lorry had travelled into the UK through Holyhead in Wales last Saturday.
The cab and container are still at the scene in the Grays industrial estate and will be moved to a secure location at Tilbury Docks in Essex, so the bodies “can be recovered while preserving the dignity of the victims”, said police.
The bodies are still inside the trailer and officers have not yet identified the victims.
The Essex force said in a statement: “A cordon has remained in place at Eastern Avenue for most of the day and this
remains in place.
“We thank everyone in the area, especially residents and local businesses, for their patience and compassion throughout the day.
“This will be a lengthy and complex investigation and we continue to work with local partners and international authorities to gather vital intelligence and identify those who have sadly died.”
Reuters news agency reports that Boyko Borissov has said Bulgaria has “no connection” to the lorry beyond its registration and that the vehicle had not entered the country since 2017.
The East of England Ambulance Service were the first emergency services on the scene and sent five ambulances, hazardous area response teams and a car from the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance.
Essex Police were then called.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has expressed his shock at the tragedy.
He tweeted: “I’m appalled by this tragic incident in Essex. I am receiving regular updates from the Home Office & will work closely with Essex Police as we establish exactly what has happened.
“My thoughts are with all those who lost their lives & their loved ones.”
He later opened PMQs by describing the incident as an “unimaginable tragedy”, and told MPs those involved in people trafficking should be “hunted down and brought to justice”.
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(c) Sky News 2019: CCTV shows Essex lorry minutes before 39 people found dead inside
