DIANE ABBOTT has called for safe and legal routes to be created for refugees entering the UK after 39 bodies were found in a lorry container in Essex.
The discovery was made at Waterglade Industrial Park shortly after 1.40am on Wednesday. One of the 39 victims is believed to be a teenager.
Speaking about the incident in the House of Commons, Abbott said: “It is important to remember that these 39 poor, unfortunate people are the victims in this. They are preyed on by the greedy, the unscrupulous and people who simply have a wilful disregard for the lives of others but we should take account of the wider context. Nobody leaves their homes on a journey like this with so much risk, and fear, on a whim. They often do it because they are actually desperate.”
The Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington also asked home secretary Priti Patel, who delivered a statement on the investigation, for assurance that the government would continue to cooperate with the EU 27 on people trafficking.
Essex Police, who are investigating the incident, said they believe the lorry to be from Bulgaria. It is not know at this stage if the victims were trafficked or were seeking to claim refugee status.
Pippa Mills, deputy chief constable, Essex Police, said: “At this stage we have not identified where the victims are from or their identities, and we anticipate that this could be a lengthy process.”
She added: “This is an absolute tragedy and very sad day for Essex Police and the local community. We will continue to work alongside many other partner agencies to find out what led to these deaths.”
Police believe the lorry came in to the UK through Holyhead on October 19.
A road closure and police cordon have been put in place in the area around where the lorry was found until further notice.
A 25-year-old lorry driver from Northern Ireland has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Major Investigation Team on 1010 or visit the Essex Police website.
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a distraction away from Brexit
I just don’t buy this ‘story’ about 39 people being found in the back of a lorry today. The whole thing stinks as a false flag. The pictures of the lorry show the trailer to be refrigerated. THIS SORT OF TRAILER IS AIR TIGHT. IT HAS TO BE GIVEN THE TYPE OF CARGO IT TRANSPORTS. Who in their right mind would stow away in such a vehicle.
Then there’s the police spokesperson on the news who seems to be glancing to her right every time she’s asked a question. It’s as if she’s being directed as to what she can or cannot say.
This supposed tragedy also once again comes at a time when Brexit debate is at such an important stage being only eight days before we are supposed to exit the EU. Yep, seems like a diversionary tactic to me to get people’s minds away from Brexit.
And as for the massive emergency services and media presence at ‘the scene’, could it possibly all just be one big enactment???.
Of course I could be completely wrong but I’m sticking with what I believe because if you ask me, the whole thing smells of a big juicy rat.
This woman is completely bout of touch
There are already safe ways to enter the country legally, they obvislouly didn’t want to o this and paid the price for trying to cheat the system and country and tax payers who will no doubt foot the huge investigation bill
Does she not realise that outside the Westminster bubble we have enough economic refugees come from countries like Bulgaria,had,nt realised there was a was a war going on there
Is this woman even on this planet, as an MP does she not know the safe and legal route would mean, making an application to a government office for a visa but what Abbott the nutter means is, just let them through the channel tunnel for free into benefits land.