UPDATE 2 - 39 bodies discovered in truck in Essex, England

UPDATES WITH MORE STATEMENTS

LONDON (AA) - British police said the bodies of 39 people have been found in a truck in an industrial park in Thurrock, west England.

“We were called by colleagues from the ambulance service shortly before 1.40am (1240GMT) this morning Wednesday 23 October following the discovery of a lorry container with people inside at Waterglade Industrial Park, Eastern Avenue, Grays,” a statement from Essex Police said.

“Emergency services arrived but sadly, 39 people were pronounced dead at the scene. Early indications suggest 38 are adults and one aged in their teens,” it said.

Police cordoned off the area and arrested a 25-year old Northern Irish truck driver on suspicion of murder.

"This is a tragic incident where a large number of people have lost their lives. Our enquiries are ongoing to establish what has happened, Chief Superintendent Andrew Mariner said.

"We are in the process of identifying the victims, however I anticipate that this could be a lengthy process,” he said.

Mariner said that the police believed the truck is “from Bulgaria and entered the country at Holyhead on Saturday 19 October and we are working closely with our partners to investigate.”

Bulgarian Foreign Ministry said the truck was registered in Bulgaria but it is owned by a Northern Irish citizen.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the news is shocking and heartbreaking in the House of Commons.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said she was “shocked and saddened by this utterly tragic incident.”

Later, Patel said at the parliament the “nationalities of the victims are not yet known,” confirming that a murder investigation has been launched into the tragic incident.

The National Crime Agency said in a statement that it sent officers to the investigation.

In 2000, 58 Chinese migrants were found dead in a truck container in a similar incident in Dover, England. A truck driver was jailed for manslaughter in 2001.