In the latest of several trials in Europe over migrant lorry deaths, France is set to try 19 men, allegedly accused of a people-smuggling plot that led to the killings of 39 Vietnamese migrants in the back of a lorry in the year 2019, a source close to the matter said on Wednesday.

The migrants succumbed to suffocation and lost their lives while being transported across the Channel to Britain in refrigerated containers.

The youngest victims who died in the tragedy were two 15-year-old boys.

The bodies of the deceased were found at a port near London, wrapped inside a sealed unit in October 2019.

On Tuesday, the French magistrates investigating the incident, ordered the trial of 19 alleged suspects, aged between 21 to 58 over the tragedy, said the source.

The source further added that the global probe indicates that the suspects, majorly of Vietnamese, French, Chinese, Algerian and Moroccan origin, are part of a large network that smuggles people from Vietnam to Europe.

As per the source, the suspects are accused of organising transport facilities for the migrants, driving taxis or arranging accommodation, and owning properties where they could hide them in the Paris region.

As per AFP reports, the wiretapped phone calls revealed that the suspects referred to their victims as "merchandise" or even "chickens".

These men will be on trial for facilitating the illegal entry of migrants, for enabling the stay of foreigners on French territory and collaborating together with a view to committing crimes which could land them in prison for up to 10 years, said the source.

Four will also be judged for manslaughter for failing to ensure duty of care during the smuggling operation, which could lead to three-year imprisonment.

<h2>Migrants willing to risk lives to reach UK</h2>

The cross-border investigation unveiled that migrants, before being driven to the Belgian port of Zeebrugge to cross the Channel, were loaded into a truck in northern France.

The incident highlighted how the migrants are willing to risk their lives to reach the United Kingdom.&nbsp;

The probe also revealed that some people pay around $40,000 to go on the perilous journey.&nbsp;

Post-mortem tests found the victims died from lack of oxygen and overheating.

<h2>'Illegal migrants to be detained and deported,'&nbsp;says Sunak</h2>

Earlier this year, UK PM Rishi Sunak vowed to resolve the issue of illegal migrants as the country recorded the arrival of more than 45,000 migrants to the shores on small boats.

As per the draft law, anyone who will arrive in the UK illegally, will not be allowed to claim asylum, Sunak said at a news conference.

"If you come here illegally, you can't claim asylum. You can't benefit from our modern slavery protections. You can't make spurious human rights claims and you can't stay," he added.

"We will detain those who come here illegally and then remove them in weeks, either to their own country if it is safe to do so. Or to a Safe Third Country like Rwanda and once you are removed, you will be banned as you are in America and Australia from ever re-entering our country," he stated.

"The current situation is neither moral nor sustainable. It cannot go on. And it's devastatingly unfair on those who most need our help, but can't get it as our asylum system is being overwhelmed by those travelling illegally across the channel," Sunak said.

In the parliament, Right-winger Braverman said that she was "confident that this bill is compatible with international obligations", despite earlier accepting that it "pushed the boundaries of international law".&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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In the latest of several trials in Europe over migrant lorry deaths, France is set to try 19 men, allegedly accused of a people-smuggling plot that led to the killings of 39 Vietnamese migrants in the back of a lorry in the year 2019, a source close to the matter said on Wednesday.

In the latest of several trials in Europe over migrant lorry deaths, France is set to try 19 men, allegedly accused of a people-smuggling plot that led to the killings of 39 Vietnamese migrants in the back of a lorry in the year 2019, a source close to the matter said on Wednesday. The migrants succumbed to suffocation and lost their lives while being transported across the Channel to Britain in refrigerated containers. The youngest victims who died in the tragedy were two 15-year-old boys. The bodies of the deceased were found at a port near London, wrapped inside a sealed unit in October 2019. On Tuesday, the French magistrates investigating the incident, ordered the trial of 19 alleged suspects, aged between 21 to 58 over the tragedy, said the source. The source further added that the global probe indicates that the suspects, majorly of Vietnamese, French, Chinese, Algerian and Moroccan origin, are part of a large network that smuggles people from Vietnam to Europe. As per the source, the suspects are accused of organising transport facilities for the migrants, driving taxis or arranging accommodation, and owning properties where they could hide them in the Paris region. As per AFP reports, the wiretapped phone calls revealed that the suspects referred to their victims as "merchandise" or even "chickens". These men will be on trial for facilitating the illegal entry of migrants, for enabling the stay of foreigners on French territory and collaborating together with a view to committing crimes which could land them in prison for up to 10 years, said the source. Four will also be judged for manslaughter for failing to ensure duty of care during the smuggling operation, which could lead to three-year imprisonment. Migrants willing to risk lives to reach UK The cross-border investigation unveiled that migrants, before being driven to the Belgian port of Zeebrugge to cross the Channel, were loaded into a truck in northern France. The incident highlighted how the migrants are willing to risk their lives to reach the United Kingdom. The probe also revealed that some people pay around $40,000 to go on the perilous journey. Post-mortem tests found the victims died from lack of oxygen and overheating. 'Illegal migrants to be detained and deported,' says Sunak Earlier this year, UK PM Rishi Sunak vowed to resolve the issue of illegal migrants as the country recorded the arrival of more than 45,000 migrants to the shores on small boats. As per the draft law, anyone who will arrive in the UK illegally, will not be allowed to claim asylum, Sunak said at a news conference. "If you come here illegally, you can't claim asylum. You can't benefit from our modern slavery protections. You can't make spurious human rights claims and you can't stay," he added. "We will detain those who come here illegally and then remove them in weeks, either to their own country if it is safe to do so. Or to a Safe Third Country like Rwanda and once you are removed, you will be banned as you are in America and Australia from ever re-entering our country," he stated. "The current situation is neither moral nor sustainable. It cannot go on. And it's devastatingly unfair on those who most need our help, but can't get it as our asylum system is being overwhelmed by those travelling illegally across the channel," Sunak said. In the parliament, Right-winger Braverman said that she was "confident that this bill is compatible with international obligations", despite earlier accepting that it "pushed the boundaries of international law". (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

France orders trial of suspects over 2019 migrant lorry deaths

Britain ordered soldiers on Wednesday to start driving fuel tankers to replenish empty pumps, as motorists remained mired in queues after nearly a week of shortages, despite Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying the situation was improving.

Britain has been gripped by a rush of panic buying that has left pumps dry across major cities, after oil companies warned they did not have enough tanker drivers to move petrol and diesel from refineries to filling stations.

Opponents blame the crisis on government incompetence and its unyielding approach to Brexit, which has blocked hauliers from hiring drivers from the EU since Britain abandoned the common market this year. London says the disruption is partly an unforeseen result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Business minister Kwasi Kwarteng said 150 soldiers would be driving tankers within a few days, and civilians would start shipments later on Wednesday using a government reserve fleet of around 80 vehicles.

Watch

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-uk-fuel-crisis-army-on-standby-to-deliver-fuel-416684/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"The last few days have been difficult, we`ve seen large queues. But I think the situation is stabilising, we`re getting petrol into the forecourts. I think we`re going to see our way through this," Kwarteng said.

Johnson has sought to quell concerns, saying supplies were returning to normal while also urging people not to panic buy.

A shortage of around 100,000 drivers has sown chaos through supply chains and raised the spectre of empty shelves and price increases at Christmas.

<h2>No guarantee</h2>

Asked if he could guarantee that there would not be problems in the run-up to the busy retail period, Kwarteng said: "I`m not guaranteeing anything. All I`m saying is that, I think the situation is stabilising."

By the early morning rush hour there were already long queues of cars in and around London and on the busy M25 orbital motorway circling the capital. Signs were up at some sites announcing no fuel was available.

The gridlock has sparked calls for doctors, nurses and other essential workers to be given priority access to fuel, a move Johnson has resisted.

Industry groups said the worst of the shortages seemed to be in London, the southeast and other English cities. Fights have broken out as drivers jostled.

The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA), which represents independent retailers who account for about two-thirds of all the 8,380 UK filling stations, said 27% its members` stations were out of fuel down from as high as 90 per cent two days ago.

More forecourts were reporting receiving deliveries and the situation was likely to improve further in the next 24 hours, but staff were experiencing "a high level of both verbal and physical abuse which is completely unacceptable," said Gordon Balmer, PRA Executive Director.

The shortages have left gaps on supermarket shelves and added to an air of chaos in the world`s fifth-largest economy. A spike in European wholesale natural gas prices has also tipped energy companies into bankruptcy.

To tackle the shortage, the government has said it will issue temporary visas to 5,000 foreign drivers, a measure it had previously ruled out after Johnson campaigned for tougher border restrictions as part of his hard line on Brexit.

"What we want to do is make sure that we have all the preparations necessary to get through until Christmas and beyond, not just in supplying the petrol stations but all parts of our supply chain," Johnson said.

Hauliers, petrol stations and retailers say there are no quick fixes as the shortfall of drivers is so acute, and transporting fuel demands training and licensing. European drivers may also be reluctant to take up the visa offer, which only lasts until Dec. 24.

Britain ordered soldiers on Wednesday to start driving fuel tankers to replenish empty pumps, as motorists remained mired in queues after nearly a week of shortages, despite Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying the situation was improving.

Britain ordered soldiers on Wednesday to start driving fuel tankers to replenish empty pumps, as motorists remained mired in queues after nearly a week of shortages, despite Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying the situation was improving. Britain has been gripped by a rush of panic buying that has left pumps dry across major cities, after oil companies warned they did not have enough tanker drivers to move petrol and diesel from refineries to filling stations. Opponents blame the crisis on government incompetence and its unyielding approach to Brexit, which has blocked hauliers from hiring drivers from the EU since Britain abandoned the common market this year. London says the disruption is partly an unforeseen result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Business minister Kwasi Kwarteng said 150 soldiers would be driving tankers within a few days, and civilians would start shipments later on Wednesday using a government reserve fleet of around 80 vehicles. Watch "The last few days have been difficult, we`ve seen large queues. But I think the situation is stabilising, we`re getting petrol into the forecourts. I think we`re going to see our way through this," Kwarteng said. Johnson has sought to quell concerns, saying supplies were returning to normal while also urging people not to panic buy. A shortage of around 100,000 drivers has sown chaos through supply chains and raised the spectre of empty shelves and price increases at Christmas. No guarantee Asked if he could guarantee that there would not be problems in the run-up to the busy retail period, Kwarteng said: "I`m not guaranteeing anything. All I`m saying is that, I think the situation is stabilising." By the early morning rush hour there were already long queues of cars in and around London and on the busy M25 orbital motorway circling the capital. Signs were up at some sites announcing no fuel was available. The gridlock has sparked calls for doctors, nurses and other essential workers to be given priority access to fuel, a move Johnson has resisted. Industry groups said the worst of the shortages seemed to be in London, the southeast and other English cities. Fights have broken out as drivers jostled. The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA), which represents independent retailers who account for about two-thirds of all the 8,380 UK filling stations, said 27% its members` stations were out of fuel down from as high as 90 per cent two days ago. More forecourts were reporting receiving deliveries and the situation was likely to improve further in the next 24 hours, but staff were experiencing "a high level of both verbal and physical abuse which is completely unacceptable," said Gordon Balmer, PRA Executive Director. The shortages have left gaps on supermarket shelves and added to an air of chaos in the world`s fifth-largest economy. A spike in European wholesale natural gas prices has also tipped energy companies into bankruptcy. To tackle the shortage, the government has said it will issue temporary visas to 5,000 foreign drivers, a measure it had previously ruled out after Johnson campaigned for tougher border restrictions as part of his hard line on Brexit. "What we want to do is make sure that we have all the preparations necessary to get through until Christmas and beyond, not just in supplying the petrol stations but all parts of our supply chain," Johnson said. Hauliers, petrol stations and retailers say there are no quick fixes as the shortfall of drivers is so acute, and transporting fuel demands training and licensing. European drivers may also be reluctant to take up the visa offer, which only lasts until Dec. 24.

British army to start driving tankers, fuel queues persist

Two members of an alleged people-smuggling gang stood trial on Wednesday accused of being responsible for the deaths of 39 Vietnamese men, women and boys found suffocated in a stifling, airtight shipping container near London last year.

The victims, nine of whom were teenagers and two aged just 15, were discovered last October in a container at the back of a truck on an industrial estate in Grays, about 20 miles (32 km) east of the British capital - a shocking incident which shone a light on global people smuggling.

Prosecutor William Emlyn Jones said the dead had been sealed inside a refrigeration unit, which was not turned on, in pitch black for at least 12 hours as the temperature rose to an unbearable 38.5 Celsius (101.3 F).

"What it must have been like inside that lorry does not bear thinking about," he said. "In short, they suffocated. There were no survivors."

He said an unsent text message on the phone of one dead woman, Pham Thi Ngoc Oanh, 28, read: "Maybe going to die in the container, can't breathe any more, dear."

An Irish haulage boss, Ronan Hughes, 41, and Maurice Robinson, 26, from Northern Ireland, the driver of the truck, have already pleaded guilty to manslaughter. On Wednesday, four other men accused of being part of the people-smuggling ring went on trial at London's Old Bailey court.

British-Romanian dual national Gheorghe Nica, 43, and Eamonn Harrison, 23, from Northern Ireland, deny manslaughter, while Harrison, Christopher Kennedy, 24, and Valentin Calota, 37, deny conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

Nica admitted that offence earlier on Wednesday, but denies any involvement in the fatal incident.

The Vietnamese migrants' journey began in northern Europe on Oct. 22 when the container was driven by Harrison to the Belgian port of Zeebrugge where it was loaded onto a cargo ship for England, Emlyn Jones said.

Shortly after midnight on Oct. 23 at the English port of Purfleet, it was picked up by Robinson. He stopped almost immediately after being sent a message by his boss which said: "Give them air quickly, but don’t let them out".

"What he found must haunt him still," Emlyn Jones told the court. "For the 39 men and women inside, that trailer had become their tomb."

HUGE SUMS

The prosecutor said there were huge sums to be made from people smuggling, with people paying upwards of 10,000 pounds ($12,887.00) to cross the English Channel in the back of a truck.

He said the gang had successfully brought in truckloads of migrants previously, with Nica organising their dispersal and Calota one of their drivers. In May 2018, Harrison was stopped at Coquelles in northern France with 18 Vietnamese nationals hidden in his truck. He was given a fine, but never paid it.

On this occasion, however, Emlyn Jones said something "went dreadfully wrong". Truck driver Kennedy, who was not involved in the fatal trip, texted a friend on the morning the bodies were found, saying: "Must have been too many and run out of air".

Most of the 39 victims - 28 men, eight women and three boys aged between 15 and 44 - were from Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces in north-central Vietnam, where poor job prospects and other factors spur migration.

Last month, a court in Vietnam sentenced four Vietnamese people to between 2-1/2 and 7-1/2 years in prison for their role in the deaths. Police said the defendants had arranged for one of the women to travel illegally to France and then to Britain for $22,000.

The trial at London's Central Court is expected to last about six weeks.

Two members of an alleged people-smuggling gang stood trial on Wednesday accused of being responsible for the deaths of 39 Vietnamese men, women and boys found suffocated in a stifling, airtight shipping container near London last year.

Two members of an alleged people-smuggling gang stood trial on Wednesday accused of being responsible for the deaths of 39 Vietnamese men, women and boys found suffocated in a stifling, airtight shipping container near London last year. The victims, nine of whom were teenagers and two aged just 15, were discovered last October in a container at the back of a truck on an industrial estate in Grays, about 20 miles (32 km) east of the British capital - a shocking incident which shone a light on global people smuggling. Prosecutor William Emlyn Jones said the dead had been sealed inside a refrigeration unit, which was not turned on, in pitch black for at least 12 hours as the temperature rose to an unbearable 38.5 Celsius (101.3 F). "What it must have been like inside that lorry does not bear thinking about," he said. "In short, they suffocated. There were no survivors." He said an unsent text message on the phone of one dead woman, Pham Thi Ngoc Oanh, 28, read: "Maybe going to die in the container, can't breathe any more, dear." An Irish haulage boss, Ronan Hughes, 41, and Maurice Robinson, 26, from Northern Ireland, the driver of the truck, have already pleaded guilty to manslaughter. On Wednesday, four other men accused of being part of the people-smuggling ring went on trial at London's Old Bailey court. British-Romanian dual national Gheorghe Nica, 43, and Eamonn Harrison, 23, from Northern Ireland, deny manslaughter, while Harrison, Christopher Kennedy, 24, and Valentin Calota, 37, deny conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. Nica admitted that offence earlier on Wednesday, but denies any involvement in the fatal incident. The Vietnamese migrants' journey began in northern Europe on Oct. 22 when the container was driven by Harrison to the Belgian port of Zeebrugge where it was loaded onto a cargo ship for England, Emlyn Jones said. Shortly after midnight on Oct. 23 at the English port of Purfleet, it was picked up by Robinson. He stopped almost immediately after being sent a message by his boss which said: "Give them air quickly, but don’t let them out". "What he found must haunt him still," Emlyn Jones told the court. "For the 39 men and women inside, that trailer had become their tomb." HUGE SUMS The prosecutor said there were huge sums to be made from people smuggling, with people paying upwards of 10,000 pounds ($12,887.00) to cross the English Channel in the back of a truck. He said the gang had successfully brought in truckloads of migrants previously, with Nica organising their dispersal and Calota one of their drivers. In May 2018, Harrison was stopped at Coquelles in northern France with 18 Vietnamese nationals hidden in his truck. He was given a fine, but never paid it. On this occasion, however, Emlyn Jones said something "went dreadfully wrong". Truck driver Kennedy, who was not involved in the fatal trip, texted a friend on the morning the bodies were found, saying: "Must have been too many and run out of air". Most of the 39 victims - 28 men, eight women and three boys aged between 15 and 44 - were from Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces in north-central Vietnam, where poor job prospects and other factors spur migration. Last month, a court in Vietnam sentenced four Vietnamese people to between 2-1/2 and 7-1/2 years in prison for their role in the deaths. Police said the defendants had arranged for one of the women to travel illegally to France and then to Britain for $22,000. The trial at London's Central Court is expected to last about six weeks.

Four men on trial over death of 39 Vietnamese migrants in UK truck container

As Malaysia is under a partial lockdown, palm exports from Malaysia's biggest producer of the edible oil, Sabah State, will be hit by a closure of private jetties due to coronavirus-related curbs, an industry body said on Saturday.

The company&nbsp;accounts for about a quarter of the total palm oil produced in Malaysia, which, after Indonesia,&nbsp;is the second biggest&nbsp;producer and exporter of vegetable oil in the world.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-agrees-to-export-hcq-to-malaysia-to-help-fight-covid-19-292634">Also read:&nbsp;India agrees to export HCQ to Malaysia to help fight COVID-19</a>

Malaysia initiated a partial lockdown on March 18 and will be continuing it till May 12. There are a total of 5,742 reported&nbsp;positive cases, with 98 deaths and 3,762 recovered patients. The lockdown has affected a lot of businesses.

There are more than 16 jetties that were used&nbsp;to ship fresh fruit bunches, crude palm oils and palm kernels. However, since the April 17 order of partial lockdown, these jetties&nbsp;have been temporarily closed.

"The downstream sector in Sabah which includes the refineries and kernel crushing plants will see their raw materials reduce, thus affecting their production and ability to fulfil the committed supply contracts. "Important of all, they are not able to carry out shipments of finished products for exports to other countries." the Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/stop-bullying-behaviour-in-south-china-sea-us-to-china-293325">Also read:&nbsp;Stop 'bullying behaviour' in South China Sea: US to China</a>

On the other hand, Petronas, a leading oil and gas company of Malaysia, has said that all its domestic projects have either already resumed or will be resuming soon.

Petronas is striving to minimise the impact to its planned domestic CAPEX programme in the face of the current challenges," the company said in a statement.

"However, we do expect that some projects will be naturally delayed due to the prolonged lockdowns implemented globally and the movement control order in Malaysia, and further disruptions anticipated to the global supply chain."

As Malaysia is under a partial lockdown, palm exports from Malaysia's biggest producer of the edible oil, Sabah State, will be hit by a closure of private jetties due to coronavirus-related curbs, an industry body said on Saturday.

As Malaysia is under a partial lockdown, palm exports from Malaysia's biggest producer of the edible oil, Sabah State, will be hit by a closure of private jetties due to coronavirus-related curbs, an industry body said on Saturday. The company accounts for about a quarter of the total palm oil produced in Malaysia, which, after Indonesia, is the second biggest producer and exporter of vegetable oil in the world. Also read: India agrees to export HCQ to Malaysia to help fight COVID-19 Malaysia initiated a partial lockdown on March 18 and will be continuing it till May 12. There are a total of 5,742 reported positive cases, with 98 deaths and 3,762 recovered patients. The lockdown has affected a lot of businesses. There are more than 16 jetties that were used to ship fresh fruit bunches, crude palm oils and palm kernels. However, since the April 17 order of partial lockdown, these jetties have been temporarily closed. "The downstream sector in Sabah which includes the refineries and kernel crushing plants will see their raw materials reduce, thus affecting their production and ability to fulfil the committed supply contracts. "Important of all, they are not able to carry out shipments of finished products for exports to other countries." the Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) said. Also read: Stop 'bullying behaviour' in South China Sea: US to China On the other hand, Petronas, a leading oil and gas company of Malaysia, has said that all its domestic projects have either already resumed or will be resuming soon. Petronas is striving to minimise the impact to its planned domestic CAPEX programme in the face of the current challenges," the company said in a statement. "However, we do expect that some projects will be naturally delayed due to the prolonged lockdowns implemented globally and the movement control order in Malaysia, and further disruptions anticipated to the global supply chain."

Palm exports from Malaysia's biggest producer of the edible oil, Sabah State, will be hit by closure

64 corpses have been found in a shipping container in the back of a lorry in Mozambique today.

The vehicle had allegedly arrived from Malawi. All the dead are suspected to be Ethiopian, and had died of suffocation, many media reports indicated.

There were also 14 survivors on-board, who were reportedly banging against the container walls, pleading for help.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://wionews.com/world/remains-of-united-kingdom-lorry-victims-arrive-in-vietnam-264751" hreflang="en">Remains of United Kingdom lorry victims arrive in Vietnam</a>

The route on which the vehicle was found is notoriously famous for trafficking people down into South Africa.

According to Tete provincial director of health, Carla Mosse, the immigration service had halted the lorry in the African town of Moatize, the BBC reported.

Even though a thorough investigation will be conducted to understand what happened to the victims, suffocation is the most likely scenario.

As reported by many media outlets, the driver was hesitant to stop the vehicle. This sentiment was echoed by Amelia Direito, a spokesperson for the National Migration Service in Tete.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://wionews.com/world/migrants-found-alive-in-refrigerated-lorry-on-dutch-uk-ferry-263266" hreflang="en">Migrants found alive in refrigerated lorry on Dutch-UK ferry</a>

Direito had heard noises coming from inside of the lorry, which raised suspicion. After this, the lorry was stopped and inspected.

According to the information received by a Portuguese newspaper called Observador, the survivors were banging the container and screaming for help when they were found by authorities.

In October 2019, 39 bodies were discovered in a lorry in the United Kingdom. Police in the UK had claimed that the bodies found in a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-kingdom-police-step-up-appeals-over-migrant-lorry-deaths-259320">refrigerated truck</a> in Essex were from Vietnam.

The Essex police worked with Vietnamese police officials to verify the identity of&nbsp; 39 people discovered at Grays in Essex on October 23. The lorry trailer was travelling from Zeebrugge in Belgium to Grays, Essex.

The victims included eight women and 31 men.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://wionews.com/world/39-bodies-found-in-lorry-in-essex-were-vietnam-nationals-uk-police-260616" hreflang="en">39 bodies found in lorry in Essex were Vietnam nationals: UK Police</a>

64 corpses have been found in a shipping container in the back of a lorry in Mozambique today. The vehicle had allegedly arrived from Malawi. All the dead are suspected to be Ethiopian, and had died of suffocation, many media reports indicated.

64 corpses have been found in a shipping container in the back of a lorry in Mozambique today. The vehicle had allegedly arrived from Malawi. All the dead are suspected to be Ethiopian, and had died of suffocation, many media reports indicated. There were also 14 survivors on-board, who were reportedly banging against the container walls, pleading for help. Also read: Remains of United Kingdom lorry victims arrive in Vietnam The route on which the vehicle was found is notoriously famous for trafficking people down into South Africa. According to Tete provincial director of health, Carla Mosse, the immigration service had halted the lorry in the African town of Moatize, the BBC reported. Even though a thorough investigation will be conducted to understand what happened to the victims, suffocation is the most likely scenario. As reported by many media outlets, the driver was hesitant to stop the vehicle. This sentiment was echoed by Amelia Direito, a spokesperson for the National Migration Service in Tete. Also read: Migrants found alive in refrigerated lorry on Dutch-UK ferry Direito had heard noises coming from inside of the lorry, which raised suspicion. After this, the lorry was stopped and inspected. According to the information received by a Portuguese newspaper called Observador, the survivors were banging the container and screaming for help when they were found by authorities. In October 2019, 39 bodies were discovered in a lorry in the United Kingdom. Police in the UK had claimed that the bodies found in a refrigerated truck in Essex were from Vietnam. The Essex police worked with Vietnamese police officials to verify the identity of 39 people discovered at Grays in Essex on October 23. The lorry trailer was travelling from Zeebrugge in Belgium to Grays, Essex. The victims included eight women and 31 men. Also read: 39 bodies found in lorry in Essex were Vietnam nationals: UK Police

64 corpses found in a lorry in Mozambique, 14 survivors also retrieved

The&nbsp;first&nbsp;remains&nbsp;of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/driver-charged-as-more-vietnamese-feared-dead-among-39-uk-truck-victims-261361">39 people found dead</a> in a&nbsp;truck&nbsp;in Britain last month arrived in&nbsp;Vietnam&nbsp;early Wednesday, an airport security source said.

The bodies arrived on a commercial&nbsp;Vietnam&nbsp;Airlines flight from London to Hanoi, where ambulances and security personnel waited at the airport.

"The plane landed with 16 bodies on board... we are waiting to transfer the bodies to local authorities," the source told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

An official letter seen by AFP confirmed that 16 bodies would&nbsp;arrive&nbsp;in&nbsp;Vietnam&nbsp;Wednesday. The 16&nbsp;victims&nbsp;came from three provinces in central&nbsp;Vietnam.

The other&nbsp;remains&nbsp;are expected to&nbsp;arrive&nbsp;in the coming days, though officials have not confirmed the date publicly.

Families have been frozen in grief for weeks waiting for their relatives' return, and many have taken out hefty loans from the government to cover the cost of repatriation.

The&nbsp;remains&nbsp;were expected to be delivered later Wednesday to relatives in three central provinces,&nbsp;Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Quang Binh,&nbsp;so families could hold funerals and burial ceremonies.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vietnam-strongly-condemns-human-trafficking-after-uk-truck-tragedy-259460">The bodies of 31 men and eight women</a> were discovered in a refrigerated lorry in an industrial state in Essex east of London on October 23.

Police initially identified the&nbsp;victims&nbsp;as Chinese but families in&nbsp;Vietnam&nbsp;later came forward with fears their relatives were on the&nbsp;truck.

The United Kingdom is a top destination for Vietnamese illegal migrants.

Many arrange trips through brokers who promise them well-paid jobs and end up working in nail bars or on cannabis farms, deep in debt for their dangerous trips over.

'VIP route'&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vietnam-arrests-eight-in-connection-with-uk-truck-deaths-259812">Several families of the 39&nbsp;victims</a>&nbsp;told AFP they borrowed thousands of dollars to pay for their relatives' trips to Europe.

They are now further in debt having taken loans from the government to bring their relatives back.

Families were given two options for repatriation: $1,774 to bring back ashes, or $2,858 for the cost of a coffin carrying the body.

Though relatives were encouraged by authorities to opt for ashes "to ensure speed, low cost and sanitation safety", many paid more for the bodies to carry out traditional burials.

Cremation is rare in the&nbsp;Vietnam&nbsp;countryside, where many of the&nbsp;victims&nbsp;were from.

Most hailed from just a handful of central&nbsp;Vietnam&nbsp;provinces, which are among the poorest in the country and where well-entrenched networks of illegal brokers can easily facilitate risky trips abroad.

Ten of the&nbsp;victims&nbsp;were teenagers, including two 15-year-old boys, and 30 of the group came from Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces.

They paid thousands of dollars to brokers who promised the&nbsp;truck&nbsp;was the safer option,&nbsp;billed as the 'VIP route',&nbsp;their families told AFP.

On Monday, the Northern Irish driver of the&nbsp;truck, 25-year-old Maurice Robinson, pleaded guilty to conspiring to assist illegal immigration.

He also admitted to acquiring the cash that came from criminal conduct but did not plead guilty to 41 other charges levelled against him.

Several other people have been arrested in the&nbsp;UK&nbsp;over the incident while&nbsp;Vietnam&nbsp;has held at least 10 people, though none have been formally charged.

The first remains of the 39 people found dead in a truck in Britain last month arrived in Vietnam early Wednesday, an airport security source said. The bodies arrived on a commercial Vietnam Airlines flight from London to Hanoi, where ambulances and security personnel waited at the airport.

The first remains of the 39 people found dead in a truck in Britain last month arrived in Vietnam early Wednesday, an airport security source said. The bodies arrived on a commercial Vietnam Airlines flight from London to Hanoi, where ambulances and security personnel waited at the airport. "The plane landed with 16 bodies on board... we are waiting to transfer the bodies to local authorities," the source told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. An official letter seen by AFP confirmed that 16 bodies would arrive in Vietnam Wednesday. The 16 victims came from three provinces in central Vietnam. The other remains are expected to arrive in the coming days, though officials have not confirmed the date publicly. Families have been frozen in grief for weeks waiting for their relatives' return, and many have taken out hefty loans from the government to cover the cost of repatriation. The remains were expected to be delivered later Wednesday to relatives in three central provinces, Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Quang Binh, so families could hold funerals and burial ceremonies. The bodies of 31 men and eight women were discovered in a refrigerated lorry in an industrial state in Essex east of London on October 23. Police initially identified the victims as Chinese but families in Vietnam later came forward with fears their relatives were on the truck. The United Kingdom is a top destination for Vietnamese illegal migrants. Many arrange trips through brokers who promise them well-paid jobs and end up working in nail bars or on cannabis farms, deep in debt for their dangerous trips over. 'VIP route' Several families of the 39 victims told AFP they borrowed thousands of dollars to pay for their relatives' trips to Europe. They are now further in debt having taken loans from the government to bring their relatives back. Families were given two options for repatriation: $1,774 to bring back ashes, or $2,858 for the cost of a coffin carrying the body. Though relatives were encouraged by authorities to opt for ashes "to ensure speed, low cost and sanitation safety", many paid more for the bodies to carry out traditional burials. Cremation is rare in the Vietnam countryside, where many of the victims were from. Most hailed from just a handful of central Vietnam provinces, which are among the poorest in the country and where well-entrenched networks of illegal brokers can easily facilitate risky trips abroad. Ten of the victims were teenagers, including two 15-year-old boys, and 30 of the group came from Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces. They paid thousands of dollars to brokers who promised the truck was the safer option, billed as the 'VIP route', their families told AFP. On Monday, the Northern Irish driver of the truck, 25-year-old Maurice Robinson, pleaded guilty to conspiring to assist illegal immigration. He also admitted to acquiring the cash that came from criminal conduct but did not plead guilty to 41 other charges levelled against him. Several other people have been arrested in the UK over the incident while Vietnam has held at least 10 people, though none have been formally charged.

Remains of United Kingdom lorry victims arrive in Vietnam

A ferry crew found 25 migrants in a refrigerated container on a boat sailing from the Netherlands to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britain-detains-22-migrants-in-english-channel-261224">Britain</a> on Tuesday, emergency services said.

The cargo vessel bound for Felixstowe returned to the Dutch port of Vlaardingen, near Rotterdam, as soon as the stowaways were found, they said in a statement.

The people found in the container received medical attention at the port and two were taken to hospital for further treatment for possible hypothermia.&nbsp;

The discovery comes the month after 39 Vietnamese people were found dead in a refrigerated truck in Britain, again laying bare the risks of illegal migrant routes to Europe.&nbsp;

"Onboard a ship it turned out that several people were found in a cooling container. The ship returned to the harbour," said the Rotterdam region emergency services on Twitter.

"The 25 people were taken off the ship and given the medical care they need. Earlier the message came from the ship that no people died.

"Two people were transported to the hospital for extra medical care. Twenty-three people were transferred to a police location after a medical check-up."

Watch: Dutch authorities found 25 migrants stowed away on a UK bound ferry

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DFDS Seaways, which operates the cargo ferry, said that the migrants had come on board on a lorry trailer, De Telegraaf newspaper said.

The driver of the truck had been arrested, it added.

A bus took away the mainly male group, some of whom were wrapped in silver thermal blankets.

Their nationalities were not immediately known.

The mayor of Vlaardingen, Annemiek Jetten, said "more and more" people were trying to cross the Channel and had not been put off by the deaths of the Vietnamese migrants.

"I think people are so desperate that they keep trying, despite the tragic events in the UK not so long ago," Jetten told broadcaster NOS.

She added that it was not clear if more people&nbsp;were trying to get to Britain before immigration laws become tougher after its scheduled exit from the EU next year.

Separately on Tuesday Dutch border police intercepted a bus carrying 65 Moldovan nationals including children who were planning to claim asylum, Dutch media reported.

A ferry crew found 25 migrants in a refrigerated container on a boat sailing from the Netherlands to Britain on Tuesday, emergency services said. The cargo vessel bound for Felixstowe returned to the Dutch port of Vlaardingen, near Rotterdam, as soon as the stowaways were found, they said in a statement.

A ferry crew found 25 migrants in a refrigerated container on a boat sailing from the Netherlands to Britain on Tuesday, emergency services said. The cargo vessel bound for Felixstowe returned to the Dutch port of Vlaardingen, near Rotterdam, as soon as the stowaways were found, they said in a statement. The people found in the container received medical attention at the port and two were taken to hospital for further treatment for possible hypothermia. The discovery comes the month after 39 Vietnamese people were found dead in a refrigerated truck in Britain, again laying bare the risks of illegal migrant routes to Europe. "Onboard a ship it turned out that several people were found in a cooling container. The ship returned to the harbour," said the Rotterdam region emergency services on Twitter. "The 25 people were taken off the ship and given the medical care they need. Earlier the message came from the ship that no people died. "Two people were transported to the hospital for extra medical care. Twenty-three people were transferred to a police location after a medical check-up." Watch: Dutch authorities found 25 migrants stowed away on a UK bound ferry DFDS Seaways, which operates the cargo ferry, said that the migrants had come on board on a lorry trailer, De Telegraaf newspaper said. The driver of the truck had been arrested, it added. A bus took away the mainly male group, some of whom were wrapped in silver thermal blankets. Their nationalities were not immediately known. The mayor of Vlaardingen, Annemiek Jetten, said "more and more" people were trying to cross the Channel and had not been put off by the deaths of the Vietnamese migrants. "I think people are so desperate that they keep trying, despite the tragic events in the UK not so long ago," Jetten told broadcaster NOS. She added that it was not clear if more people were trying to get to Britain before immigration laws become tougher after its scheduled exit from the EU next year. Separately on Tuesday Dutch border police intercepted a bus carrying 65 Moldovan nationals including children who were planning to claim asylum, Dutch media reported.

Migrants found alive in refrigerated lorry on Dutch-UK ferry

Police in Greece said 41 migrants were found alive in a refrigerated truck.

The driver of the bus was arrested after the truck was impounded as&nbsp;the migrants were moved to a police station for identification.&nbsp;

The migrants were reportedly of Afghan origin, the police added, while informing that they were in good health with some provided first aid.

Reports said the police had stopped the truck on a highway near the northern Greek city of Xanthi.

The latest incident comes after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/migrant-lorry-victims-believed-to-be-vietnamese-uk-police-259383">39 people had died in a similar truck</a> in an industrial estate near London last month. The driver of the bus Maurice Robinson, 25, from Northern Ireland was charged with manslaughter and people trafficking.

The London police had said earlier that those dead were Chinese nationals but later claimed they were believed to be Vietnamese. The victims included eight women and 31 men.

The bodies in the truck were discovered at Purfleet on the River Thames estuary, after arriving on a ferry from the Belgian port of Zeebrugge

In another incident, 30 migrants from Pakistan have been found hidden in a lorry in southern France. The driver of the lorry also from Pakistan was detained, French prosecutors said as illegal migrant routes in Europe continued to be the focus of authorities.

Post-mortem examinations are being carried out and no formal cause of death has been released.

 
&nbsp;

Police in Greece said 41 migrants were found alive in a refrigerated truck. The driver of the bus was arrested after the truck was impounded as the migrants were moved to a police station for identification.

Police in Greece said 41 migrants were found alive in a refrigerated truck. The driver of the bus was arrested after the truck was impounded as the migrants were moved to a police station for identification. The migrants were reportedly of Afghan origin, the police added, while informing that they were in good health with some provided first aid. Reports said the police had stopped the truck on a highway near the northern Greek city of Xanthi. The latest incident comes after 39 people had died in a similar truck in an industrial estate near London last month. The driver of the bus Maurice Robinson, 25, from Northern Ireland was charged with manslaughter and people trafficking. The London police had said earlier that those dead were Chinese nationals but later claimed they were believed to be Vietnamese. The victims included eight women and 31 men. The bodies in the truck were discovered at Purfleet on the River Thames estuary, after arriving on a ferry from the Belgian port of Zeebrugge In another incident, 30 migrants from Pakistan have been found hidden in a lorry in southern France. The driver of the lorry also from Pakistan was detained, French prosecutors said as illegal migrant routes in Europe continued to be the focus of authorities. Post-mortem examinations are being carried out and no formal cause of death has been released.

Greek police find 41 migrants in refrigerated truck; driver arrested

The 39 migrants found dead in a refrigerated truck near London are believed to be Vietnamese, police said Friday as they renewed their appeal for two men to help with the investigation.

"At this time, we believe the victims are Vietnamese nationals, and we are in contact with the Vietnamese government," Essex Police chief Tim Smith said in a statement.

"We are in direct contact with a number of families in Vietnam and the UK, and we believe we have identified families for some of the victims whose journey ended in tragedy on our shores," he said.

But he added that the "confirmatory evidence" required to name the victims had not yet been obtained.

Police have also said they wanted to speak to Ronan and Christopher Hughes, two brothers in the haulage business from Northern Ireland, in connection with the discovery of the bodies at an industrial estate last month.

Police had initially said the victims were believed to be Chinese nationals.

Detective Chief Inspector Dan Stoten said on a visit to Belfast that officers had already spoken to Ronan Hughes by telephone but needed to talk to him again in person.

"The sooner we can make this happen the sooner we can progress and continue with our investigation," he said.

The victims -- eight women and 31 men -- were found in a truck that entered Britain on a ferry from Belgium.

Post-mortem examinations are being carried out and no formal cause of death has been released.

A multinational police investigation is now underway in a case that has shocked Britain and renewed debates about ways to stop human trafficking.

In Vietnam, police on Friday announced the arrest of two people for trafficking in connection with the deaths.

The pair were accused of "organising and brokering for other people to go abroad and stay abroad illegally", a Vietnamese police statement said.

In Dublin, a 23-year-old man from Northern Ireland appeared at Ireland's High Court for the start of extradition proceedings to bring him to Britain.

He is charged with 39 offences of manslaughter, as well as immigration and human trafficking offences.

The 25-year-old driver of the refrigerated lorry, also from Northern Ireland, has been charged with manslaughter, money laundering and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

Three other people have been arrested and released on police bail.

The 39 migrants found dead in a refrigerated truck near London are believed to be Vietnamese, police said Friday as they renewed their appeal for two men to help with the investigation.

The 39 migrants found dead in a refrigerated truck near London are believed to be Vietnamese, police said Friday as they renewed their appeal for two men to help with the investigation. "At this time, we believe the victims are Vietnamese nationals, and we are in contact with the Vietnamese government," Essex Police chief Tim Smith said in a statement. "We are in direct contact with a number of families in Vietnam and the UK, and we believe we have identified families for some of the victims whose journey ended in tragedy on our shores," he said. But he added that the "confirmatory evidence" required to name the victims had not yet been obtained. Police have also said they wanted to speak to Ronan and Christopher Hughes, two brothers in the haulage business from Northern Ireland, in connection with the discovery of the bodies at an industrial estate last month. Police had initially said the victims were believed to be Chinese nationals. Detective Chief Inspector Dan Stoten said on a visit to Belfast that officers had already spoken to Ronan Hughes by telephone but needed to talk to him again in person. "The sooner we can make this happen the sooner we can progress and continue with our investigation," he said. The victims -- eight women and 31 men -- were found in a truck that entered Britain on a ferry from Belgium. Post-mortem examinations are being carried out and no formal cause of death has been released. A multinational police investigation is now underway in a case that has shocked Britain and renewed debates about ways to stop human trafficking. In Vietnam, police on Friday announced the arrest of two people for trafficking in connection with the deaths. The pair were accused of "organising and brokering for other people to go abroad and stay abroad illegally", a Vietnamese police statement said. In Dublin, a 23-year-old man from Northern Ireland appeared at Ireland's High Court for the start of extradition proceedings to bring him to Britain. He is charged with 39 offences of manslaughter, as well as immigration and human trafficking offences. The 25-year-old driver of the refrigerated lorry, also from Northern Ireland, has been charged with manslaughter, money laundering and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. Three other people have been arrested and released on police bail.

Migrant lorry victims believed to be Vietnamese: UK police

More than 30 migrants from Pakistan have been found hidden in a lorry in southern France, prosecutors said Saturday.

They said the driver, who was also from Pakistan, was detained.

The discovery came after 39 people, all believed to be Vietnamese nationals, were found dead in a refrigerated truck in Britain last month, laying bare again the risks of illegal migrant routes to Europe.

The group of 31 Pakistani migrants was discovered during a routine check on a motorway near the Italian border on Friday, French prosecutors said.

The migrants, who included three teenagers, were handed over to the Italian authorities in accordance with immigration procedures.

"We will try and establish if we can trace it back to a network and backers as we always do in this type of case," the prosecutors' office in the southeastern city of Nice said.

More than 30 migrants from Pakistan have been found hidden in a lorry in southern France, prosecutors said Saturday. They said the driver, who was also from Pakistan, was detained.

More than 30 migrants from Pakistan have been found hidden in a lorry in southern France, prosecutors said Saturday. They said the driver, who was also from Pakistan, was detained. The discovery came after 39 people, all believed to be Vietnamese nationals, were found dead in a refrigerated truck in Britain last month, laying bare again the risks of illegal migrant routes to Europe. The group of 31 Pakistani migrants was discovered during a routine check on a motorway near the Italian border on Friday, French prosecutors said. The migrants, who included three teenagers, were handed over to the Italian authorities in accordance with immigration procedures. "We will try and establish if we can trace it back to a network and backers as we always do in this type of case," the prosecutors' office in the southeastern city of Nice said.

Over 30 Pakistani migrants found in lorry in France

Detectives probing the deaths of 39 Asian migrants in a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/driver-charged-over-deaths-of-39-people-in-uk-lorry-police-258313">refrigerated truck</a> in southeast England renewed on Friday their appeal for two brothers in the haulage business to help with the investigation.

Essex Police said they wanted to speak to Ronan and Christopher Hughes from Northern Ireland in connection with the discovery of the bodies at an industrial estate in Grays, near London, last month.

Detective Chief Inspector Dan Stoten said on a visit to Belfast that officers had already spoken to Ronan Hughes by telephone but needed to talk to him again in person.

"Talking to Ronan and Christopher is crucial to our investigation and the sooner we can make this happen the sooner we can progress and continue with our investigation," he said.

The Hughes brothers, aged 40 and 34, are from the Armagh region of Northern Ireland and have links across the island of Ireland to the road haulage and shipping business, said Stoten.

"We urge anyone who has been in contact with them or has any information about where they are to get in contact with us," he added.

Stoten revealed that police in <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">Northern Ireland stopped a lorry</a> believed to be connected to the brothers but no arrests were made.

Meanwhile, the 25-year-old driver of the refrigerated lorry who is from Northern Ireland was remanded in custody when he appeared in court last week charged with manslaughter, money laundering and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

Three other people have been arrested and released on police bail.

The victims,&nbsp;eight women and 31 men, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/essex-lorry-deaths-uk-police-arrest-man-and-woman-for-human-trafficking-over-truck-deaths-258160">were found in a truck that entered Britain</a> on a ferry from Belgium. Several Vietnamese families fear their relatives are among the dead.

Post-mortem examinations are being carried out but no formal cause of death or identification have been released.

Detectives probing the deaths of 39 Asian migrants in a refrigerated truck in southeast England renewed on Friday their appeal for two brothers in the haulage business to help with the investigation.

Detectives probing the deaths of 39 Asian migrants in a refrigerated truck in southeast England renewed on Friday their appeal for two brothers in the haulage business to help with the investigation. Essex Police said they wanted to speak to Ronan and Christopher Hughes from Northern Ireland in connection with the discovery of the bodies at an industrial estate in Grays, near London, last month. Detective Chief Inspector Dan Stoten said on a visit to Belfast that officers had already spoken to Ronan Hughes by telephone but needed to talk to him again in person. "Talking to Ronan and Christopher is crucial to our investigation and the sooner we can make this happen the sooner we can progress and continue with our investigation," he said. The Hughes brothers, aged 40 and 34, are from the Armagh region of Northern Ireland and have links across the island of Ireland to the road haulage and shipping business, said Stoten. "We urge anyone who has been in contact with them or has any information about where they are to get in contact with us," he added. Stoten revealed that police in Northern Ireland stopped a lorry believed to be connected to the brothers but no arrests were made. Meanwhile, the 25-year-old driver of the refrigerated lorry who is from Northern Ireland was remanded in custody when he appeared in court last week charged with manslaughter, money laundering and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. Three other people have been arrested and released on police bail. The victims, eight women and 31 men, were found in a truck that entered Britain on a ferry from Belgium. Several Vietnamese families fear their relatives are among the dead. Post-mortem examinations are being carried out but no formal cause of death or identification have been released.

United Kingdom police step up appeals over migrant lorry deaths

Police investigating the deaths of 39 people in a truck near London said they <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/essex-lorry-deaths-uk-police-arrest-man-and-woman-for-human-trafficking-over-truck-deaths-258160">had arrested three more suspects</a> on Friday on suspicion of human trafficking amid signs that some of the dead may be&nbsp;Vietnamese.

As forensic experts began the process of identifying the victims, the&nbsp;Vietnamese embassy in London said families from the southeast Asian country had got in touch about missing relatives. There were growing concerns at least 10 of the victims could have been from&nbsp;Vietnam.

Hoa Nghiem from Human Rights Space, a civic network based in&nbsp;Vietnam, said that Pham Thi Tra My, 26, had sent a text message to her mother saying she could not breathe at about the time the truck container was en route from Belgium to Britain.

"I’m sorry, mum and dad. My path abroad was not a success. I love you both so much. I can’t breathe. I'm from Nghen Town, Can Loc District, Ha Tinh,&nbsp;Vietnam&nbsp;... I am sorry, Mom," the message said, according to Hoa who told Reuters it had come from Tra My's family.

She said Tra My had gone to China and was planning to reach England via France and that the organisation was getting more alerts about possible&nbsp;Vietnamese victims in the refrigerated trunk, which was found in the early hours of Wednesday.

Police have said they believe the dead were Chinese but Beijing said the nationalities had not yet been confirmed. Chinese and&nbsp;Vietnamese officials are now both working closely with British police, their respective embassies said.

"We owe it to those who have died to get this investigation right and speculation is not helpful," Essex Police's Deputy Chief Constable Pippa Mills told reporters. "It may in fact hinder our investigation and its progress."

She said they would not give any more details about the identities or nationalities of the victims until the formal identification process was complete.

Her officers were still questioning the 25-year-old truck driver on suspicion of murder following the discovery of the bodies in the back of his truck.

He has not been formally identified but a source familiar with the investigation named him as Mo Robinson from the Portadown area of Northern Ireland.

On Friday, police also arrested a man and woman, both aged 38, in Warrington, northwest England, and a 48-year-old man from Northern Ireland at London's Stansted Airport. They are suspected of conspiracy to traffic people and manslaughter.

The victims - 31 men and eight women - are being moved to a hospital mortuary from a secure location at docks near the industrial estate in Grays about 20 miles (30 km) east of London where the bodies were found.

Post-mortem examinations were beginning to determine how exactly they died while the lengthy process of identifying the deceased was underway.

VietHome, an organisation for the&nbsp;Vietnamese community in Britain, said it had received news from 10 families that their relatives were missing.

For years, illegal immigrants have attempted to reach Britain stowed away in trucks, often from the European mainland. In 2000, 58 Chinese were found dead in a tomato truck at the port of Dover. 
 
Watch: Essex Lorry death case: 3 more suspects in UK police custody

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Britain 'has not fulfilled responsibility'

"We hope that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/essex-lorry-deaths-uk-points-to-belgium-258064">British side</a> can as soon as possible confirm and verify the identities of the victims, ascertain what happened and severely punish criminals involved in the case," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a daily news briefing.

China's Global Times, which is published by the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily, said in a Friday editorial that Britain should bear some responsibility for the deaths.

"It is clear that Britain and relevant European countries have not fulfilled their responsibility to protect these people from such a death," the widely read tabloid said.

It added that Britain appeared not to have learned its lesson from the Dover incident two decades ago.

The police investigation is focussed on the movement of the trailer prior to its arrival at Purfleet docks near Grays little more than an hour before the bodies were found, and on who was behind the suspected human trafficking.

Irish company Global Trailer Rentals said it owned the trailer and had rented it out on October&nbsp;15. The firm said it was unaware of what it was to be used for.

The refrigeration unit had travelled to Britain from Zeebrugge in Belgium and the town's chairman, Dirk de Fauw, said he believed the victims died in the trailer before it arrived in the Belgian port.

The Times newspaper reported that GPS data showed the container had arrived at the Belgian port at 2.49 p.m. local time on Tuesday before later making the 10-hour sea crossing to Britain.

Police said the cab unit of the truck was driven over from Dublin on Sunday, crossing the Irish Sea by ship and entering Britain in North Wales. It picked up the trailer in Purfleet shortly after midnight on Wednesday.

Figures last year from the UK's National Crime Agency, which targets serious and organised crime, showed&nbsp;Vietnamese nationals were the third most commonly reported victims of modern slavery or trafficking in Britain, although it did not have statistics about those entering the country illegally.

Police investigating the deaths of 39 people in a truck near London said they had arrested three more suspects on Friday on suspicion of human trafficking amid signs that some of the dead may be Vietnamese.

Police investigating the deaths of 39 people in a truck near London said they had arrested three more suspects on Friday on suspicion of human trafficking amid signs that some of the dead may be Vietnamese. As forensic experts began the process of identifying the victims, the Vietnamese embassy in London said families from the southeast Asian country had got in touch about missing relatives. There were growing concerns at least 10 of the victims could have been from Vietnam. Hoa Nghiem from Human Rights Space, a civic network based in Vietnam, said that Pham Thi Tra My, 26, had sent a text message to her mother saying she could not breathe at about the time the truck container was en route from Belgium to Britain. "I’m sorry, mum and dad. My path abroad was not a success. I love you both so much. I can’t breathe. I'm from Nghen Town, Can Loc District, Ha Tinh, Vietnam ... I am sorry, Mom," the message said, according to Hoa who told Reuters it had come from Tra My's family. She said Tra My had gone to China and was planning to reach England via France and that the organisation was getting more alerts about possible Vietnamese victims in the refrigerated trunk, which was found in the early hours of Wednesday. Police have said they believe the dead were Chinese but Beijing said the nationalities had not yet been confirmed. Chinese and Vietnamese officials are now both working closely with British police, their respective embassies said. "We owe it to those who have died to get this investigation right and speculation is not helpful," Essex Police's Deputy Chief Constable Pippa Mills told reporters. "It may in fact hinder our investigation and its progress." She said they would not give any more details about the identities or nationalities of the victims until the formal identification process was complete. Her officers were still questioning the 25-year-old truck driver on suspicion of murder following the discovery of the bodies in the back of his truck. He has not been formally identified but a source familiar with the investigation named him as Mo Robinson from the Portadown area of Northern Ireland. On Friday, police also arrested a man and woman, both aged 38, in Warrington, northwest England, and a 48-year-old man from Northern Ireland at London's Stansted Airport. They are suspected of conspiracy to traffic people and manslaughter. The victims - 31 men and eight women - are being moved to a hospital mortuary from a secure location at docks near the industrial estate in Grays about 20 miles (30 km) east of London where the bodies were found. Post-mortem examinations were beginning to determine how exactly they died while the lengthy process of identifying the deceased was underway. VietHome, an organisation for the Vietnamese community in Britain, said it had received news from 10 families that their relatives were missing. For years, illegal immigrants have attempted to reach Britain stowed away in trucks, often from the European mainland. In 2000, 58 Chinese were found dead in a tomato truck at the port of Dover. Watch: Essex Lorry death case: 3 more suspects in UK police custody Britain 'has not fulfilled responsibility' "We hope that the British side can as soon as possible confirm and verify the identities of the victims, ascertain what happened and severely punish criminals involved in the case," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a daily news briefing. China's Global Times, which is published by the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily, said in a Friday editorial that Britain should bear some responsibility for the deaths. "It is clear that Britain and relevant European countries have not fulfilled their responsibility to protect these people from such a death," the widely read tabloid said. It added that Britain appeared not to have learned its lesson from the Dover incident two decades ago. The police investigation is focussed on the movement of the trailer prior to its arrival at Purfleet docks near Grays little more than an hour before the bodies were found, and on who was behind the suspected human trafficking. Irish company Global Trailer Rentals said it owned the trailer and had rented it out on October 15. The firm said it was unaware of what it was to be used for. The refrigeration unit had travelled to Britain from Zeebrugge in Belgium and the town's chairman, Dirk de Fauw, said he believed the victims died in the trailer before it arrived in the Belgian port. The Times newspaper reported that GPS data showed the container had arrived at the Belgian port at 2.49 p.m. local time on Tuesday before later making the 10-hour sea crossing to Britain. Police said the cab unit of the truck was driven over from Dublin on Sunday, crossing the Irish Sea by ship and entering Britain in North Wales. It picked up the trailer in Purfleet shortly after midnight on Wednesday. Figures last year from the UK's National Crime Agency, which targets serious and organised crime, showed Vietnamese nationals were the third most commonly reported victims of modern slavery or trafficking in Britain, although it did not have statistics about those entering the country illegally.

Vietnamese may be among who were found dead in lorry, UK police make three more arrests

British police investigating the deaths of 39 people in a refrigerated truck said Saturday they had charged a driver arrested at the scene with manslaughter and people trafficking.

British police investigating the deaths of 39 people in a refrigerated truck said Saturday they had charged a driver arrested at the scene with manslaughter and people trafficking. Maurice Robinson, 25, from Northern Ireland, faces "39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to traffic people, conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and money laundering", police said. Robinson was arrested shortly after the bodies were discovered in the truck at Purfleet on the River Thames estuary, after arriving on a ferry from the Belgian port of Zeebrugge early on Wednesday. He will appear in court on Monday, Essex police said. Three other people have been arrested in Britain in connection with the investigation, on suspicion of conspiracy to traffic people and manslaughter. They remain in custody. They include a 38-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman from Warrington in northwest England, reportedly a couple. She is said to be the legal owner of the truck. A 48-year-old man from Northern Ireland is also being held. On Saturday, Irish police announced another arrest at Dublin port, of a man in his early 20s from Northern Ireland.

Driver charged over deaths of 39 people in UK lorry, say police

British police warned on Friday that press and social media speculation about the identities of the 39 people found dead in a lorry in Essex may hinder the investigation. 3 more suspects are in the UK police custody.

Essex Lorry death case: 3 more suspects in UK police custody

The majority of the 39 people found dead in the back of a truck near London were likely from Vietnam, a community leader from the rural, rice-growing community where many of the victims are believed to have come from told on Saturday.

The majority of the 39 people found dead in the back of a truck near London were likely from Vietnam, a community leader from the rural, rice-growing community where many of the victims are believed to have come from told on Saturday. The discovery of the bodies - 38 adults and one teenager - was made on Wednesday after emergency services were alerted to people in a truck container on an industrial site in Grays, about 32km (20 miles) east of central London. Police have said they believe the dead were Chinese but Beijing said the nationalities had not yet been confirmed. Chinese and Vietnamese officials are now both working closely with British police, their respective embassies have said. Father Anthony Dang Huu Nam, a catholic priest in the remote town of Yen Thanh in northern-central Vietnam's Nghe An province, 300km (180 miles) south of Hanoi, said he was liaising with family members of the victims. "The whole district is covered in sorrow," Nam said, as prayers for the dead rang out over loudspeakers throughout the misty, rain-soaked town on Saturday. "I'm still collecting contact details for all the victim's families, and will hold a ceremony to pray for them tonight." "This is a catastrophe for our community." Nam said families told him they knew relatives were travelling to the UK at the time and had been unable to contact their loved ones. Vietnam's foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday that it had instructed its London embassy to assist British police with the identification of victims. The ministry did not respond to a request for further comment regarding the nationalities of the dead. Essex Police declined to elaborate as to how they first identified the dead as Chinese. 'Beautiful day' In Yen Thanh, Nghe An province, dozens of worried relatives of 19-year-old Bui Thi Nhung gathered in the family's small courtyard home where her worried mother has been unable to rise from her bed. "She said she was in France and on the way to the UK, where she has friends and relatives," said Nhung's cousin, Hoang Thi Linh. "We are waiting and hoping it's not her among the victims, but it's very likely. We pray for her every day. There were two people from my village travelling in that group". In comments under a photo uploaded to Nhung's Facebook account on Monday, two days before the doomed truck was discovered, one friend asked how her journey was going. "Not good," Nhung replied. "Almost spring," she said, using a term in Vietnamese meaning she had almost reached her destination. Other photos on her account show her sightseeing in Brussels on Oct. 18. "Such a beautiful day," Nhung posted. Nghe An is one of Vietnam's poorest provinces, and home to many victims of human trafficking who end up in Europe, according to a March report by the Pacific Links Foundation, a U.S.-based anti-trafficking organisation. Other victims are believed to come from the neighbouring province of Ha Tinh, Nam said, where in the first eight months of this year, 41,790 people left looking for work elsewhere, including overseas, according to state media. The province was ravaged by one of Vietnam's worst environmental disasters in 2016 when a steel mill owned by Taiwan's Formosa Plastics contaminated coastal waters, devastating local fishing and tourism industries and sparking widespread protests. Another suspected victim from Ha Tinh, 26-year-old Pham Thi Tra My, had sent a text message to her mother saying she could not breathe at about the time the truck container was en route from Belgium to Britain. "That girl who said in her message that she couldn't breathe in the truck? Her parents can't breathe here at home," Nam said.

Majority of 39 UK truck victims likely from Vietnam: Priest

At least 20 people including women and children were killed on Monday when a lorry toppled over and shed its load of coal onto a passenger van in southern Pakistan, police said.

Five people were injured in the accident in Khairpur district in Sindh province.

A senior district police official said the truck was trying to overtake the van when it toppled and crushed the other vehicle.

&quot;The van (was) buried under the coal and at least 17 people including children and women died on the spot,&quot; Azfar Mahesar told AFP.

Eight injured people were rushed to hospital but three subsequently died, said hospital doctor Ghulam Jafar.

Several of the bodies were badly crushed by the coal and so far just 10 have been identified, he added.&nbsp;

Pakistan has one of the world&#39;s worst records for fatal traffic accidents, due to poor roads, badly maintained vehicles and reckless driving.

At least 20 people including women and children were killed on Monday when a lorry toppled over and shed its load of coal onto a passenger van in southern Pakistan, police said

At least 20 people including women and children were killed on Monday when a lorry toppled over and shed its load of coal onto a passenger van in southern Pakistan, police said. Five people were injured in the accident in Khairpur district in Sindh province. A senior district police official said the truck was trying to overtake the van when it toppled and crushed the other vehicle. "The van (was) buried under the coal and at least 17 people including children and women died on the spot," Azfar Mahesar told AFP. Eight injured people were rushed to hospital but three subsequently died, said hospital doctor Ghulam Jafar. Several of the bodies were badly crushed by the coal and so far just 10 have been identified, he added. Pakistan has one of the world's worst records for fatal traffic accidents, due to poor roads, badly maintained vehicles and reckless driving.

20 killed as truck topples onto van in Pakistan

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