A MURDER investigation has been launched after 39 bodies were found inside a lorry container on an industrial estate.
The victims, found at the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, included one teenager, Essex Police said.
A 25-year-old driver from Northern Ireland has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Early indications suggest there 38 are adults and one teenager, police said.
The lorry is from Bulgaria and entered the country at Holyhead, North Wales, one of the main port for ferries from Ireland.
Police have said tracking the route of the lorry "will be a key line of inquiry" amid concerns it may have made its way to the British mainland unchecked by avoiding the ports of Calais and Dover, which have more stringent monitoring of people smuggling.
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.
"We are in the process of identifying the victims, however I anticipate that this could be a lengthy process.
"We believe the lorry is from Bulgaria and entered the country at Holyhead on Saturday 19 October and we are working closely with our partners to investigate.
"We have arrested the lorry driver in connection with the incident who remains in police custody as our enquiries continue.
"I appreciate this cordon is going to disrupt the activity of local businesses in the area and we will work to ensure that disruption is kept as short as possible.
"We are working with Thurrock Council to mitigate against any impact our investigation scene will have locally."
Home Secretary Priti Patel wrote in a statement: "I'm shocked and saddened by this utterly tragic incident in Grays. My heart goes out to all those affected.
"Essex Police has arrested an individual and we must give them the space to conduct their investigations. Home Office immigration officials will be working closely alongside them to establish how this horrific event came to happen."
Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted: "I'm appalled by this tragic incident in Essex. 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."
A spokesman for the ministry of foreign affairs in Bulgaria told PA: "Our embassy in London is in contact with the British authorities to clarify the case involving the 39 people found dead in a truck in Essex.
"The British police have been contacted and a representative of our embassy has also had a meeting at the Foreign Office in London.
"At present, it has not yet been confirmed whether the truck has a Bulgarian registration.
"There is also no indication of the nationality of the human bodies found in the truck.
"British police have warned that the identification of the bodies will take a long time."
The Irish premier has said investigations will be undertaken if it is established the lorry carrying had passed through Ireland.
"The information that we have so far this morning is very sketchy but there are some reports that the truck may have passed through Ireland at some point," Leo Varadkar told the Dail parliament in Dublin.
"So, obviously we are going to need to get more information and carry out any necessary investigations that may be required.
"But I think everyone's thoughts in this House this morning are with those who are dead, those who have passed on and their families.
"It is a real terrible and human tragedy, and we will carry out any investigations that are necessary if it's established that the truck did pass through Ireland."
Irish police were working with Essex Police on Wednesday to establish the facts over whether or not the lorry came from the Irish Republic.
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