39 deaths in trucks: British police start from Vietnam as their country of origin

In the investigation of the death of 39 people in a truck trailer, the British police are now focusing on the country of origin Vietnam. "I'm putting the focus on the Vietnamese community right now," said Martin Passmore, who is responsible for identifying the victims at the Essex Police.

The police had initially reported that the dead were Chinese. This is not excluded. In addition to Vietnam, other countries of origin are also considered eligible according to Passmore. The police encounter various difficulties in clarifying the case.

It was a problem that relatives of the victims themselves might live illegally in the UK and were afraid to report to the police. Passmore therefore pledged that his agency would not prosecute anyone who contacted the police on the matter. Over the past few days, potential relatives have addressed some shocking accounts to British media.

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Because of the 39 dead, the police have now arrested four suspects, they are accused of trafficking and manslaughter or murder. The tractor had come from Ireland, the semi-trailer came to England via the Belgian port of Zeebrugge - by boat he was brought from Belgium to the port of Purfleet.

Even days after the grisly discovery on the night of Wednesday is unclear when and where people got into the truck. It concerns 31 men and eight women (read here you a report from the locality).

Meanwhile, all the bodies from the truck had been taken to Forensic Medicine, Passmore said. Subsequently, particularities found on the dead are to be compared with further information.

He also met with the Vietnamese Ambassador to deepen cooperation with the authorities in his country. The Vietnamese Embassy in London has set up a hotline that people can use to get information about potentially affected relatives.

Passmore said, "We all want one thing above all else: that the dead be identified and brought to their loved ones."

In the video: reactions to the horrible find

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Hollie Adams / PA Wire / DPA