Mystery as bodies of 38 adults and 1 teenager found dead in back of lorry in Essex

THIS is the 25-year-old driver today arrested on suspicion of murder - as CCTV shows his lorry making its final journey in Essex packed with 39 bodies.

Mo Robinson, from Northern Ireland, was arrested in one of Britain's biggest-ever mass murder probes after the grisly discovery in Grays at 1.40am today.

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CCTV shows the lorry making its final journey packed with the dead suspected migrants - including one teenager - 30 minutes before the grim discovery was made.

Robinson can't be seen in the video but the red and white Scovia lorry is left-hand drive.

His family, from County Armagh, told the Belfast Telegraphthey hadn’t “heard from him” and “don’t know what is going on”.

Do you know Mo Robinson? Call The Sun Online on 0207 782 4368 or email holly.christodoulou@the-sun.co.uk

Robinson open Facebook page reveals he is a lorry driver - with pictures of what appears to be the same cab as the lorry involved in the horror.

It has an identical “The Ultimate Dream” decal on the windscreen - with Robinson branding it "The Polar Express" on his social media.

Robinson has also used the hashtag "irishfridgemen" while posting about the lorry on Instagram.

The driver doesn't own the lorry, which was registered in Bulgaria in 2017 by an Irish company but has not entered the country since then.

Robinson appears to make regular trips to Denmark and Sweden, which would mean driving through Britain.

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It is was originally believed the lorry entered the UK via a ferry crossing from Dublin to Holyhead, Wales, on Saturday - meaning those inside could have been dead for at least four days.

But police have now said the lorry's cab with the driver travelled from Holyhead on Saturday but it is not clear if it originally came from Ireland or Northern Ireland.

Meanwhile, the lorry's container with the bodies travelled 173 miles from Zeebrugge in Belgium to Purfleet, Essex.

It then docked at the docks in Purfleet at around 12.30am today, where it was attached to the lorry.

Both lorry and trailer then left at around 1.05am and continued its journey to the industrial estate where the bodies were discovered 35 minutes later.

'HORRIFIC CONDITIONS'

Experts say the container appears to be refrigerated - meaning temperatures can reach as low as -25C causing people to "lose their lives pretty quickly".

It is not yet known how the victims died or if the refrigerator was switched on.

Road Haulage Association chief executive Richard Burnett said the "horrific conditions" would be "absolutely horrendous" in the dark lorry.

He added: "This tragedy highlights the danger of migrant gangs people-smuggling on lorries.

"It's highly unlikely that if this vehicle has come from Europe that it's been physically checked."

SMUGGLER SUGGESTION

It is the biggest disaster of its kind since 2000, when 58 Chinese stowaways died in a lorry travelling by ferry from Belgium to Britain.

Local Tory MP Jackie Doyle-Price suggested people smugglers may be to blame for the tragedy - although police have refused to confirm this.

She tweeted: "People trafficking is a vile and dangerous business. This is a big investigation for @EssexPoliceUK

"Lets hope they bring these murderers to justice".

She later said in the Commons "putting 39 people into a locked metal container shows a contempt for human life that is evil".

'TRAGIC INCIDENT'

Police are now working to the identify the 38 adults and one teenager but say it will be a "lengthy process".

They were alerted by paramedics but it is not clear who made the original discovery. All 39 people were dead before the emergency services arrived.

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."

Boris Johnson said he is "appalled by the tragic incident" this morning.

He said: "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.”

Speaking duringPMQs, the PM said the perpetrators "should be hunted down and brought to justice".

'THEY SHOULD BE HUNTED DOWN'

Police in Ireland said they are carrying out "preliminary investigations" to see whether the lorry came through the country, which migrant groups say is usually a trafficking destination, not a transit point.

The National Crime Agency confirmed they are assisting Essex Police and Immigration Enforcement to "urgently identify any organised crime groups" who may be involved.

A cordon is in place at Waterglade Industrial Park, which is currently closed.

It is also a mile from Intu Lakeside shopping centre and the M25 Dartford Crossing.

PREVIOUS TRAGEDIES

In 2000, 58 dead bodies were found in a lorry at Dover, after travelling from Belgium.They were immigrants and likely died of asphyxiation after being trapped in the container for more than 18 hours.

The driver, Perry Wacker, was sentenced to 14 years in jail for his part in a people smuggling operation run by a Chinese gang.

And in 2004, 23 Chinese cockle pickers who were searching for a "better life" drowned in Morecambe Bay, Lancs, when they were trapped by sweeping tides.

Bulgaria's foreign ministry said it could not confirm at this stage whether the truck had started its journey from the country.

Anyone concerned about relatives following the incident can call a Casualty Bureau on 0800 056 0944 or 0207 158 0010 if ringing from outside the UK.

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