Two more arrests in Thurrock lorry deaths investigation, as causes of death revealed

The bodies of 39 Vietnamese citizens were found on the Waterglade Industrial Park

Police investigating the deaths of 39 Vietnamese people who were found in a lorry in Thurrock have revealed they have made two more arrests.

A 22-year-old man was detained in Northern Ireland on Sunday on suspicion of manslaughter and facilitating unlawful immigration. He is now in custody in Essex.

And Gheorghe Nica, who was arrested at Frankfurt Airport in Germany last month, has since been charged with 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

Nica, 43, of Mimosa Close, Langdon Hills, appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, 8 February and will next appear at the Old Bailey in March.

Meanwhile, the victims’ provisional cause of death has been revealed as a combination of hypoxia and hyperthermia in an enclosed space.

Officers are continuing to appeal for anyone with information to come forward.

In a statement, Essex Police said: “As our investigation progresses, we are keen to hear from anyone who has knowledge of two similar journeys that haulage vehicles made into Purfleet on Friday, 11 and Friday, 18 October 2019.

“It is believed that lorries were used to facilitate the unlawful entry of people into the country via Purfleet. We believe that these people, or anyone who had knowledge of the journeys, have crucial information to assist our inquiry.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Rayleigh’s Major Crime Team on 101 or submit information, including videos and photos, through Essex Police’s public portal here.

Elsewhere, another man, Eamonn Harrison is due back in court in Dublin tomorrow.

He has previously appeared at Dublin’s High Court on Tuesday 4 February accused of 39 charges of manslaughter and charges for conspiracy to traffic people and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.