A lorry and its trailer containing the bodies of 39 people have been removed from the scene in an Essex industrial estate.
The victims were found dead in Grays after police were called at 1.40am this morning and arrested the driver, a 25-year-old man, on suspicion of murder.
The cab and refrigerated container were moved with a police escort to a secure location at Tilbury Docks in Essex, so the bodies "can be recovered while preserving the dignity of the victims", said officers.
The bodies are still inside the trailer and officers have not yet identified the people who died.
CCTV footage has emerged of the lorry driving towards the Waterglade Industrial Park minutes before the bodies were found inside the container.
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The images were taken at 1.10am this morning and show the vehicle just around the corner from where the discovery was made a short time later at the estate.
The man arrested is Mo Robinson, from Portadown in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, Sky News understands. He is still in custody.
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Officers say they believe the lorry trailer travelled from Zeebrugge in Belgium to Purfleet, Essex – and then docked in the Thurrock area shortly after 12.30am this morning.
The lorry cab, which is thought to have originated in Northern Ireland, and the container left the port soon after 1.05am.
Police had earlier claimed the lorry had travelled into the UK through Holyhead in Wales last Saturday.
The Essex force said in a statement: "This will be a lengthy and complex investigation and we continue to work with local partners and international authorities to gather vital intelligence and identify those who have sadly died."
The Bulgarian ministry of foreign affairs said the Scania truck was registered in Varna, on the east coast of Bulgaria, under the name of a company owned by an Irish citizen.
The country's prime minister Boyko Borissov said Bulgaria has "no connection" to the lorry beyond its registration and that the vehicle had not entered the country since 2017.
The East of England Ambulance Service were the first emergency services on the scene and sent five ambulances, hazardous area response teams and a car from the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance.
Essex Police were then called.
Richard Burnett, chief executive of the Road Haulage Association, said: "This tragedy highlights the danger of migrant gangs people-smuggling on lorries."
He said temperatures in refrigerated units can be as low as minus 25C and described conditions for anyone Read More – Source
