39 bodies found inside lorry in Essex as police launch murder investigation

A murder investigation has been launched after 39 bodies were found in a lorry container in Essex, UK.

Officers were called by the ambulance service just before 1:40am on Wednesday after the discovery at the Waterglade Industrial Park in Eastern Avenue, Grays.

Police have arrested the 25-year-old male driver from Northern Ireland on suspicion of murder.

Early indications suggest 38 were adults and one aged in their teens, according to Essex Police.

It's believed the lorry is from Bulgaria and entered the UK at Holyhead on Saturday.

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."

He added that officers are "in the process of identifying the victims" but anticipate that "this could be a lengthy process".

"We have arrested the lorry driver in connection with the incident who remains in police custody as our enquiries continue," Mariner said.

A cordon has been put in place and access to and from the Waterglade Industrial Park remains closed.