UK authorities have been able to ascertain that the trailer that contained 39 people who were later found dead in Essex had arrived in Purfleet on the river Thames from the Belgian port of Zeebrugge.

Officials have long since pointed blame to organised crime syndicates within Belgium with Zeebrugge highlighted as a key embarking point for "clandestine arrivals" in a 2016 UK border force threat assessment.

The container found at an industrial park in grays in the early hours of Wednesday. Is thought to have been brought into Zeebrugge the afternoon before - and then arriving in Purfleet at around midnight.

Purfleet was also identified back in 2016 as one of the less busy UK Ports. Favoured by criminal smuggling gangs, forced to pursue alternatives due to improved controls and security in France.

The head of the Zeebrugge port has said that they couldn't detect the 39 people when they went through the Belgian port.

police have sought time to interrogate the suspect… on suspicion of murdering the 39 Chinese nationals - eight women and 31 men… the police at the moment have requested the media not to disclose his identity

Essex police have said that it was the largest murder investigation in the force's history.

formal identification of the 39 people believed to be Chinese nationals. Could be a lengthy process with due post-mortems of each of the deceased only after which can their identities be then revealed.

china's ambassador to the UK &nbsp;Liu Xiaoming tweeted that the embassy had read the reports of the deaths "with heavy hearts" and was in close contact with British police.

Meanwhile, police officers signed a book of condolences for the Chinese victims at the Thurrock council in Essex.

For years, illegal immigrants have attempted to reach Britain stowed away in trucks. Often from the European mainland in 2000, the biggest such tragedy yet, 58 Chinese were found dead in a tomato truck in at the port of Dover.

Belgium's federal prosecutors, who handle cases of terrorism and organised crime, said on Thursday they had opened an investigation into the transport.

UK authorities have been able to ascertain that the trailer that contained 39 people who were later found dead in Essex had arrived in Purfleet on the river Thames from the Belgian port of Zeebrugge.

UK authorities have been able to ascertain that the trailer that contained 39 people who were later found dead in Essex had arrived in Purfleet on the river Thames from the Belgian port of Zeebrugge. Officials have long since pointed blame to organised crime syndicates within Belgium with Zeebrugge highlighted as a key embarking point for "clandestine arrivals" in a 2016 UK border force threat assessment. The container found at an industrial park in grays in the early hours of Wednesday. Is thought to have been brought into Zeebrugge the afternoon before - and then arriving in Purfleet at around midnight. Purfleet was also identified back in 2016 as one of the less busy UK Ports. Favoured by criminal smuggling gangs, forced to pursue alternatives due to improved controls and security in France. The head of the Zeebrugge port has said that they couldn't detect the 39 people when they went through the Belgian port. police have sought time to interrogate the suspect… on suspicion of murdering the 39 Chinese nationals - eight women and 31 men… the police at the moment have requested the media not to disclose his identity Essex police have said that it was the largest murder investigation in the force's history. formal identification of the 39 people believed to be Chinese nationals. Could be a lengthy process with due post-mortems of each of the deceased only after which can their identities be then revealed. china's ambassador to the UK Liu Xiaoming tweeted that the embassy had read the reports of the deaths "with heavy hearts" and was in close contact with British police. Meanwhile, police officers signed a book of condolences for the Chinese victims at the Thurrock council in Essex. For years, illegal immigrants have attempted to reach Britain stowed away in trucks. Often from the European mainland in 2000, the biggest such tragedy yet, 58 Chinese were found dead in a tomato truck in at the port of Dover. Belgium's federal prosecutors, who handle cases of terrorism and organised crime, said on Thursday they had opened an investigation into the transport.

Essex lorry deaths: UK points to Belgium

British police have yet to confirm that the 39 people found dead in a truck near London were Chinese nationals, the Chinese embassy in London said Friday.

A Chinese consular official travelled to Essex on Thursday, a day after emergency workers discovered the bodies inside the refrigerated container of a vehicle parked in an industrial area.

Police in the UK has said, "all are believed to be Chinese nationals". The truck had arrived on a ferry from Belgium.

"British police said they were verifying the identity of the victims and could not confirm whether they were Chinese," a Chinese embassy spokesperson said on its website.

The Chinese consular official, Tong Xuejun, told state broadcaster CCTV on Thursday that he had met with British police.

"We will urge the British police to further find out the truth. We will keep the media informed... of the latest progress of the incident," Tong said.

The local police force, who have arrested the truck's driver on suspicion of murder, said eight of the dead were women and 31 were men.

It is Britain's largest murder probe in more than a decade.

The deaths echoed the discovery of 58 Chinese immigrants hidden in a Dutch truck in the English port of Dover in 2000. Only two survived.

British police have yet to confirm that the 39 people found dead in a truck near London were Chinese nationals, the Chinese embassy in London said Friday. A Chinese consular official travelled to Essex on Thursday, a day after emergency workers discovered the bodies inside the refrigerated container of a vehicle parked in an industrial area.

British police have yet to confirm that the 39 people found dead in a truck near London were Chinese nationals, the Chinese embassy in London said Friday. A Chinese consular official travelled to Essex on Thursday, a day after emergency workers discovered the bodies inside the refrigerated container of a vehicle parked in an industrial area. Police in the UK has said, "all are believed to be Chinese nationals". The truck had arrived on a ferry from Belgium. "British police said they were verifying the identity of the victims and could not confirm whether they were Chinese," a Chinese embassy spokesperson said on its website. The Chinese consular official, Tong Xuejun, told state broadcaster CCTV on Thursday that he had met with British police. "We will urge the British police to further find out the truth. We will keep the media informed... of the latest progress of the incident," Tong said. The local police force, who have arrested the truck's driver on suspicion of murder, said eight of the dead were women and 31 were men. It is Britain's largest murder probe in more than a decade. The deaths echoed the discovery of 58 Chinese immigrants hidden in a Dutch truck in the English port of Dover in 2000. Only two survived.

China says no confirmation yet on UK truck victims' nationality

Britain and other European countries must accept some responsibility for the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/essex-lorry-deaths-chinas-embassy-urges-uk-police-to-find-out-the-truth-about-39-bodies-discovered-in-truck-258039">deaths of 39 people</a>, believed to be Chinese nationals, found dead in a refrigerated truck near London, the state-backed Global Times said on Friday.

Paramedics and police found the bodies of 31 men and eight women on Wednesday on an industrial estate at Grays in Essex, about 20 miles (30 km) east of the British capital.

For years, illegal immigrants have stowed away in trucks while attempting to reach Britain, often from the European mainland. In 2000, 58 Chinese were found dead in a tomato truck at the port of Dover.

At the moment it was impossible to say how much responsibility the dead should bear for the tragedy, the widely-read Chinese newspaper said in an editorial.

"But such a serious humanitarian disaster has occurred under the eyes of the British and Europeans," it said. "It is clear that Britain and relevant European countries have not fulfilled their responsibility to protect these people from such a death."

Even if found to have been smuggled into the country, the victims' death was not their fault, added the paper, which is published by the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily.

"We hope that Britain and European countries will put into effect their various commitments to human rights and make due efforts for Chinese people to be free from abuse and sudden death."

Britain appears not to have learned its lesson from the Dover incident two decades ago, it added.

"Imagine how thoroughly European countries would take measures if dozens of Europeans were collectively tragically killed in some way," the paper said.

"Could the British and European people ask themselves why they have not been able to avoid a similar tragedy...Did they take all the serious remedial action that they could have?"

China has not formally confirmed the victims are citizens.

On Friday, the Chinese embassy in London said it had sent a team to Essex that met police.

"The British police said they are verifying the identity of the deceased, and at present are unable to be certain that they are Chinese nationals," the embassy said.

&nbsp;

Britain and other European countries must accept some responsibility for the deaths of 39 people, believed to be Chinese nationals, found dead in a refrigerated truck near London, the state-backed Global Times said on Friday.

Britain and other European countries must accept some responsibility for the deaths of 39 people, believed to be Chinese nationals, found dead in a refrigerated truck near London, the state-backed Global Times said on Friday. Paramedics and police found the bodies of 31 men and eight women on Wednesday on an industrial estate at Grays in Essex, about 20 miles (30 km) east of the British capital. For years, illegal immigrants have stowed away in trucks while attempting to reach Britain, often from the European mainland. In 2000, 58 Chinese were found dead in a tomato truck at the port of Dover. At the moment it was impossible to say how much responsibility the dead should bear for the tragedy, the widely-read Chinese newspaper said in an editorial. "But such a serious humanitarian disaster has occurred under the eyes of the British and Europeans," it said. "It is clear that Britain and relevant European countries have not fulfilled their responsibility to protect these people from such a death." Even if found to have been smuggled into the country, the victims' death was not their fault, added the paper, which is published by the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily. "We hope that Britain and European countries will put into effect their various commitments to human rights and make due efforts for Chinese people to be free from abuse and sudden death." Britain appears not to have learned its lesson from the Dover incident two decades ago, it added. "Imagine how thoroughly European countries would take measures if dozens of Europeans were collectively tragically killed in some way," the paper said. "Could the British and European people ask themselves why they have not been able to avoid a similar tragedy...Did they take all the serious remedial action that they could have?" China has not formally confirmed the victims are citizens. On Friday, the Chinese embassy in London said it had sent a team to Essex that met police. "The British police said they are verifying the identity of the deceased, and at present are unable to be certain that they are Chinese nationals," the embassy said.

Britain must accept responsibility for truck deaths: Chinese media