Police has discovered the dead bodies of 39 people, including 38 adults and one teenager, inside a lorry container in Essex, England.
According to the police, the lorry, which contained the dead bodies, is believed to have traveled from Bulgaria and was found at around 1:40 a.m. at Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex.
The 25-year-old lorry driver from Northern Ireland has been taken into police custody on suspicion of murder. The police claimed that the vehicle was able to enter the UK via Holyhead, Anglesey, on Saturday.
Deputy Chief Constable Pippa Mills emphasized that identifying the victims remained a "number one priority" for the police but he expects it to be a "lengthy process". Officers from the National Crime Agency have been dispatched to  assist and identify any "organized crime groups who may have played a part".
Seamus Leheny, Northern Ireland policy manager for the Freight Transport Association, pointed out that if the lorry had come from Bulgaria, entering the UK via Holyhead was an "unorthodox route". He added that because of increased security checks at Dover and Calais, "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".
According to a spokesman for the Bulgarian foreign affairs ministry, it had not been confirmed whether the truck was registered in the country. "There is also no indication of the nationality of the human bodies found in the truck," he added.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the incident an "unimaginable tragedy and truly heartbreaking". "I know that the thoughts and prayers of all members will be with those who lost their lives and their loved ones. I'm receiving regular updates. The Home Office will work closely with Essex Police as we establish exactly what has happened," he said.
