COPS have launched one of the biggest mass murder probes in British history today after 39 bodies - including a teenager - were discovered in the back of a lorry in Essex.
The 25-year-old lorry driver, from Northern Ireland, has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the grisly discovery in an industrial park in Grays at 1.40am.
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It is the biggest disaster of its kind since 2000, when 58 Chinese stowaways died in a lorry travelling by ferry from Belgium to Britain.
Experts say the container appears to be refrigerated - meaning temperatures can reach as low as -25C causing people to "lose their lives pretty quickly".
Road Haulage Association chief executive Richard Burnett said the conditions would be "absolutely horrendous" in the dark lorry.
He added: "The only place to go to the toilet is on board the back of the trailer. You can imagine if they've been in there for days then there will be faeces, there will be urine."
It is understood the lorry was from Bulgaria and entered the UK in Holyhead, Wales, on Saturday - meaning those inside could have been dead for at least four days.
The lorry's windscreen has a number of decals - including a Celtic harp with "Ireland" written next to it and "the ultimate dream" at the bottom.
The route the lorry could have taken
Experts believe the lorry came from Cherbourg, France, as the area has less security checks.
It could then have arrived at Rosslare, Ireland, before driving to Dublin.
The lorry may have got on the ferry to Holyhead from before travelling through England to Essex.
An alarming report last year found people smugglers were targeting the Irish border as they saw it as a "weak point".
Migrants were taken from Calais and Dunkirk and flown to Dublin, from where they cross the Irish border and travel onwards to London.
Richard Burnett, chief executive of the Road Haulage Society, said the tragedy "highlights the danger of migrant gangs people-smuggling on lorries".
He believes the lorry could have travelled on a ferry from Cherbourg, France, to Rosslare, Ireland, before driving to Dublin and taking another ferry to Holyhead, North Wales.
Mr Burnett added: "It's highly unlikely that if this vehicle has come from Europe that it's been physically checked.
"Because of the migrant issue at Dover and Calais, you've got far more checks that are taking place there. You've got heartbeat monitors, you've got dogs, you've got CO2. Those checks are done as you drive through.
"If this is somebody trying to smuggle a significant number of people through then maybe Cherbourg has been picked because it's a little easier to get through."
Local Tory MP Jackie Doyle-Price has suggested people smugglers may be to blame for the tragedy - although police have refused to confirm this.
She tweeted: "Sickening news of 39 people found dead in a container in Grays.
"People trafficking is a vile and dangerous business. This is a big investigation for @EssexPoliceUK
"Lets hope they bring these murderers to justice".
She later said in the Commons "putting 39 people into a locked metal container shows a contempt for human life that is evil".
Police are now working to the identify the 38 adults and one teenager but say it will be a "lengthy process".
They were alerted by paramedics but it is not clear who made the original discovery. All 39 people were dead before the emergency services arrived.
'TRAGIC INCIDENT'
Chief Superintendent Andrew Mariner said: "This is a tragic incident where a large number of people have lost their lives. Our enquiries are ongoing to establish what has happened."
Boris Johnson said he is "appalled by the tragic incident" this morning.
He said: "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.”
Speaking during PMQs, the PM said the perpetrators "should be hunted down and brought to justice".
'THEY SHOULD BE HUNTED DOWN'
Boris added: "It is hard to put ourselves in the shoes of those emergency services, as the right gentleman opposite (Jeremy Corbyn) said, as they were asked to open that container and to expose the appalling crime that had taken place.
"I must say I do share her strong desire now for the perpetrators of that crime, and indeed all those who engage in similar activity - because we know that this trade is going on - all such traders in human beings should be hunted down and brought to justice."
Speaking at the scene today, Deputy Chief Constable Pippa Mills said the discovery was an “absolute tragedy” and appealed to anyone with any information to contact police.
Police in Ireland said they are carrying out "preliminary investigations" to see whether the lorry came through the country, which migrant groups say is usually a trafficking destination, not a transit point.
The National Crime Agency confirmed they are assisting Essex Police and Immigration Enforcement to "urgently identify any organised crime groups" who may be involved.
Home Secretary Priti Patel tweeted: "Shocked & saddened by this utterly tragic incident in Grays. Essex Police has arrested an individual and we must give them the space to conduct their investigations."
'HORRIFYING NEWS'
DUP leader Arlene Foster has also tweeted about the tragedy.
She wrote: "Horrifying news coming from Essex this morning. Thinking of those who have impacted and their families during such a distressing time."
Irish premier Leo Varadkar said "necessary investigations" would be carried out if the truck had passed through Ireland.
Paige Waide, who was driving home from work at 4.15am said she saw "blue flashing lights" as she made her way past the industrial park.
She added: "I knew it was serious because of how many police cars and ambulances were there, but the police had parked their cars across the whole access of the road so you couldn't see anything."
Britain's biggest murder probes
- In 2000 58 dead bodies were found in a lorry at Dover, after travelling from Belgium. The driver was sentenced to 14 years in jail for his part in a people smuggling operation.
- British doctor Harold Shipman was found guilty of murdering 15 people in 2000. An inquiry found 218 victims, 80 per cent of whom were elderly women.
- Bruce George Peter Lee is one of Britain's most prolific killers. He was convicted of 26 counts of manslaughter (11 were later overturned) in 1981.
- Dennis Nilsen was jailed for life in 1983 after murdering 15 men. He picked his victims up from the streets and strangled or drowned them before having sex with their corpses.
- Peter Sutcliffe, the "Yorkshire Ripper" murdered 13 women and attempted to kill seven others. He carried out his despicable crimes between 1975 and 1980.
- Argus Sinclair spent much of his life behind bars for a catalogue of crimes - he was convicted of killing four people, but suspected of murdering more.
- Beverley Allitt was sentenced to life in prison in 1991 after killing four babies and wounding nine others while working as a paediatric nurse.
- Ian Brady murdered five children, aged between 10 and 17, and buried them in Saddleworth Moor.
A cordon is in place at Waterglade Industrial Park, which is currently closed.
The estate is home to a number of different businesses - including Renault Trucks, kitchen supply store Cosentino UK Ltd and Firesafe and Sound Limited.
It is also a mile from Intu Lakeside shopping centre and the M25 Dartford Crossing.
In 2000, 58 dead bodies were found in a lorry at Dover, after travelling from Belgium.
They were immigrants and likely died of asphyxiation after being trapped in the container for more than 18 hours.
The driver, Perry Wacker, was sentenced to 14 years in jail for his part in a people smuggling operation run by a Chinese gang.
And in 2004, 23 Chinese cockle pickers who were searching for a "better life" drowned in Morecambe Bay, Lancs, when they were trapped by sweeping tides.
PREVIOUS TRAGEDIES
David Anthony Eden Sr, and son David Anthony Eden Jr bought cockles from the work gang but were cleared of helping the workers break immigration law.
Gang leader Lin Liang Ren was found guilty of the manslaughter of at least 21 people and facilitating illegal immigration.
In 2014, one person died and dozens of others were rushed to hospital after 35 people were discovered in the back of a lorry in nearby Tilbury Docks.
Seamus Leheny, Northern Ireland policy manager for the Freight Transport Association (FTA), said it is believed the lorry would have entered Holyhead from Dublin.
He said: "If the lorry came from Bulgaria, getting into Britain via Holyhead is an unorthodox route.
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"People have been saying that security and checks have been increased at places like Dover and Calais, so it might be seen as an easier way to get in by going from Cherbourg or Roscoff, over to Rosslare, then up the road to Dublin."
Bulgaria's foreign ministry said it could not confirm at this stage whether the truck had started its journey from the country.
Anyone concerned about relatives following the incident can call a Casualty Bureau on 0800 056 0944 or 0207 158 0010 if ringing from outside the UK.
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