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39 Dead Bodies Found in Semi Truck, Driver Arrested

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The bodies of 39 people were found in the back of a semi-truck in Essex east of London in the United Kingdom early Wednesday morning.

Essex police said the truck is believed to have traveled from Bulgaria, the BBC reported.

According to authorities, everyone inside the back of the trailer was dead, including 38 adults and one teenager.

The truck driver, identified as a 25-year-old man from Northern Ireland, has been arrested under suspicion of murder.

Deputy Chief Constable Pippa Mills told reporters that identifying the victims is law enforcement’s “number one priority,” but anticipates it will be a “lengthy process.”

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According to the BBC, a spokesman for the Bulgarian foreign affairs minister had yet to confirm whether the truck is registered in the country.

“There is also no indication of the nationality of the human bodies found in the truck,” he said.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson described the discovery as an “unimaginable tragedy and truly heartbreaking.”

Speaking before Parliament on Wednesday, he said: “I know that the thoughts and prayers of all members will be with those who lost their lives and their loved ones.

“I’m receiving regular updates. The Home Office will work closely with Essex Police as we establish exactly what has happened.”

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Member of Parliament Jackie Doyle-Price, who represents the Essex county town of Gray where the truck was discovered, said it was “sickening news.”

During Prime Minister’s Questions before the Parliament, Doyle-Price said: “To put 39 people into a locked metal container shows a contempt for human life that is evil. The best thing we can do in memory of those victims is to find the perpetrators and bring them to justice.”

The truck entered the United Kingdom from Holyhead in northern Wales via ferry from Dublin, Ireland, three days ago.

“It’s an unknown route in my experience, so it’s a surprise, as well as tragic,” Dave Wood, former director of general immigration enforcement said, according to The New York Times.

He explained that migrants seeking to enter Great Britain sometimes fly to Dublin, rather than London, because airport security is looser there.

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Randy DeSoto has written more than 1,000 articles for The Western Journal since he joined the company in 2015. He is a graduate of West Point and Regent University School of Law. He is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths" and screenwriter of the political documentary "I Want Your Money."
Randy DeSoto is the senior staff writer for The Western Journal. He wrote and was the assistant producer of the documentary film "I Want Your Money" about the perils of Big Government, comparing the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama. Randy is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths," which addresses how leaders have appealed to beliefs found in the Declaration of Independence at defining moments in our nation's history. He has been published in several political sites and newspapers.

Randy graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a BS in political science and Regent University School of Law with a juris doctorate.
Birthplace
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Nationality
American
Honors/Awards
Graduated dean's list from West Point
Education
United States Military Academy at West Point, Regent University School of Law
Books Written
We Hold These Truths
Professional Memberships
Virginia and Pennsylvania state bars
Location
Phoenix, Arizona
Languages Spoken
English
Topics of Expertise
Politics, Entertainment, Faith




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