THE NAMES OF the 39 people whose bodies were found in the back of a lorry container in Essex on 23 October have been released.
All of the victims were Vietnamese and have now been identified. Essex Police today released the victims’ names and extended their condolences to the bereaved families.
The senior officer in charge of the investigation, Assistant Chief Constable Tim Smith, said identifying the victims was “an incredibly important process”, stating: “Our team has been working hard to bring answers to worried families who fear their loved one may be among those whose tragic journey ended on our shores.”
Smith said Essex Police’s priority “has been to identify the victims, to preserve the dignity of those who have died and to support the victims’ friends and families”.
“It remained of paramount importance to us to ensure that an individual’s next-of-kin were informed, and that they were given some time to absorb this tragic news before we publicly confirmed their loved one’s identity.
“We have worked closely with the National Crime Agency, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and the Vietnamese Authorities to identify and locate their families.”
Senior Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray added: “May I take this opportunity to offer my deepest condolences to the victims’ families. My thoughts are with them at this unimaginably difficult time.”
The victims’ names are as follows:
Consultation between the UK and Vietnamese governments is underway with regard to the repatriation of those who have died.
A number of people have been arrested in the UK, Vietnam and Ireland in connection with the deaths and some are facing charges related to manslaughter and human trafficking.
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