UK forensic police officers are investigating the site where 39 people were found dead in a container at Waterglade Industrial Park in Essex, East London, on October 23, 2019. (Photo: AFP/VNA)

The Embassy met with the British crime prevention agency and Essex police last Friday and visited the site where the container was found. The two sides agreed to work together and exchange information during the investigation and victim identification process. The Embassy has set up a channel for direct liaison and collaboration with Essex police, which says identification will likely take one week.

Eric Van Der Sypt, a spokesperson for the Belgian public prosecutor’s office, on Sunday confirmed that the suspect arrested by Irish police last Saturday morning was the driver who brought the container to Zeebrugge port prior to entering the UK.

UK police are investigating whether the container in which 39 migrants were found frozen to death was part of a convoy of three lorries.

The European Migrant Smuggling Centre, an anti-trafficking unit, under the EU’s law enforcement agency, Europol, is leading a global inquiry into the tragedy.

In a related development, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc last Saturday asked authorities to establish whether Vietnamese citizens are among the 39 victims.

He ordered an investigation of Vietnamese citizens illegally sent overseas and strict punishment of violations.

Prime Minister Phuc tasked the Foreign Ministry with directing the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK to work with local agencies in identifying the victims and carrying out citizen protection measures if needed. He required reports on the case from authorities to be submitted to him by next Tuesday.