One man and one woman have been arrested.
Two more people have been arrested as part of continuing investigations into the discovery of 39 bodies inside a lorry container in Essex on Wednesday morning.
On Friday afternoon, Essex Police confirmed that, after carrying out warrants in Cheshire, a 38-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to traffic people and on suspicion of 39 counts of manslaughter.
A previously arrested 25-year-old man, hailing from Northern Ireland, remains in custody on suspicion of murder, with a warrant of further detention granted by local magistrates.
On Thursday evening, emergency services began the process of moving the bodies of the victims from the port of Tilbury to the selected mortuary site at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford.
“This is all being done in close liaison with HM Coroner and we continue to work to ensure that the dignity of victims and respect for their loved ones are at the forefront of our investigation,” notes a statement by Essex Police.
The first post-mortem examinations are scheduled to begin today, Friday 25 October.
“Formal identification will then follow the coronial process and will be a lengthy but crucial part of this investigation,” the statement continues.
“As our investigations continue, the picture may change regarding identification, and we will continue to provide updates when appropriate under the direction of HM Coroner.”
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