APD | British police confirm 39 bodies found inside truck were Chinese

By APD wirter Aditya Nugraha

**LONDON, Oct. 24 (APD) - **British police have confirmed that the 39 bodies found in a refrigerated truck in Grays, Essex, near London on Wednesday were Chinese. The bodies comprised of 8 women and 31 men.

A 25 year-old Northern Ireland man identified as Mo Robinson was arrested related to the finding. The arrest was made after police made searches in County Armagh on Wednesday night.

Arrest against Mo Robinson was believed to be linked with the arrest over the truck’s driver who now detained in Essex police station.

The truck containing the victims arrived at Purfleet from Zeebrugge in Belgium about 12.30am on Wednesday and the front section to which it was attached, known as the tractor, came from Northern Ireland, detectives said.

Police were called about 30 minutes later after ambulance staff made the grim discovery at Waterglade Industrial Park in nearby Grays.

Belgium police have also made investigation into the case.

Chinese embassy has sent officials to the industrial park where 39 of its citizens were found dead in the back of a truck.

The grim finding of bodies in the refrigerated truck also grabbed the attention of Britain Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

“I’m appalled by this tragic incident in Essex. I am receiving regular updates and 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,” Johnson said in his tweet to respond the finding.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)