City
Epaper

Essex lorry victims were all Vietnamese nationals

By IANS | Updated: November 8, 2019 11:30 IST

The 39 bodies found last month in a refrigerated lorry container in the English county of Essex have all been identified as Vietnamese, UK police has confirmed.

Open in App

In a statement on Thursday, Essex Police said the relatives of the victims have been informed, reports Efe news.

On October 23, 31 men and eight women were found inside the refrigerated chamber of the vehicle in an industrial park in the town of Grays, in southeast England.

"This is an important step in the investigation and enables us to work with our Vietnamese Police colleagues to support the families of those victims," a senior officer in charge of the enquiry, Assistant Chief Constable Tim Smith, said in a statement.

"It is only right that we provide an opportunity for family members to take in the news confirming the death of their loved ones before releasing any further information.

"Our thoughts remain with the families and friends of those whose tragic journey ended on our shores," he added.

Authorities in Vietnam confirmed that the victims were Vietnamese nationals and specified the provinces they had travelled from as Hai Phong, Hai Duong, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Thua Thien and Hue.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security added that the victims have been identified with the help of the British Police.

The announcement was made after a Vietnamese delegation travelked to the UK on November 2 to work on the identification of victims.

So far, 35 families from the provinces of Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Quang Binh have reported the disappearance of relatives.

Some parents have already received official notification that their children were among the 39 dead in the Essex truck.

To An Xo, a spokesman for the Ministry of Public Security, said that the date and manner in which the bodies will be repatriated will depend on the British authorities and the families.

Vietnamese police have detained 11 people in the Ha Tinh and Nghe An provinces in recent days allegedly linked to the trafficking of the victims from Vietnam to Europe.

It is thought some migrants had paid up to $40,000 to travel to the UK.

The truck in which the deceased were found had travelled from the port of Purfleet in east London, where it had arrived from the port-city of Zeebrugge in Belgium.

The cabin driver, a 25-year-old Norwegian named Maurice Robinson, appeared before a British court charged with 39 counts of manslaughter and other crimes.

Two others have also appeared in a Dublin court for their alleged relationship to the crime.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: VietnamHa TinhQuang BinhEssex Police
Open in App

Related Stories

MumbaiPune Travel Agent Arrested for Cheating Doctor, Friends of ₹8.25 Lakh Over Vietnam Visa

MumbaiMumbai: Businessman Duped of ₹8.24 Lakh in Vietnam Tour Package Scam, Case Registered Against Travel Agent

LifestyleWhy October to April Is the Best Time to Visit Vietnam – Insights from Local Experts at Vietnamstory.in

InternationalTyphoon Kalmaegi Live Tracker Map: Asia's Deadliest Cyclonic Storm Heading To Vietnam After Devastating Philippines; Check Real-Time Status

InternationalTyphoon Ragasa Live Tracker Map: Deadly Cyclonic Storm Nears Vietnam After Wreaking Havoc in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan; Check Real-Time Status

International Realted Stories

InternationalFatal collision on key highway kills one, injures five in Eastern Afghanistan

InternationalChinese tourist's experience in Beijing reveals rapidly expanding system of identity control: Report

InternationalOman, Iran start discussions on opening Straits of Hormuz amid West Asia conflict

International"If US gets three more victories like this, it will be ruined," Iran Speaker shares pic of downed jet

International77 Killed, Over 100 Injured in Afghanistan Floods Since March 26: Govt Officials