The Prime Minister has called for those involved in the death of 39 people whose bodies were found in a lorry container to be "hunted down and brought to justice".

Police were called to the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays at 1.40am today by paramedics.

The victims, found in the container believed to be from Bulgaria, are thought to be 38 adults and one teenager.

Essex Police said the lorry driver, a 25-year-old man from Northern Ireland, has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

During PMQs, Thurrock MP Jackie 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."

Responding, Mr Johnson said: "It is hard to put ourselves in the shoes of those emergency services, as the right gentleman opposite (Jeremy Corbyn) said, as they were asked to open that container and to expose the appalling crime that had taken place.

"I must say I do share her strong desire now for the perpetrators of that crime, and indeed all those who engage in similar activity - because we know that this trade is going on - all such traders in human beings should be hunted down and brought to justice."

Home secretary Priti Patel described the discovery in Essex as "truly shocking".

"From what police have been able to ascertain so far is that the vehicle is believed to be from Bulgaria and entered the country at Holyhead, North Wales, one of the main port or ferries from Ireland [sic] on the 19th of October," she told the Commons.

39 Bodies found in a container at Waterglade Industrial Park, Grays 35 show all 39 Bodies found in a container at Waterglade Industrial Park, Grays 1/35 Police activity at the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex, after 39 bodies were found inside a lorry container on the industrial estate. PA 2/35 Thirty-nine bodies, including one of a teenager, have been found in a lorry container in Essex. The bodies were found in a lorry on the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays Sky News 3/35 A forensic officer inside the cab of a lorry at the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex PA 4/35 Police and forensic officers investigate a lorry in which 39 bodies were discovered in the trailer Getty Images 5/35 A Police forensic investigation team at the site where 39 bodies were discovered in the back of a lorry Jeremy Selwyn 6/35 Flowers are pictured by a road sign on Eastern Avenue at Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays AFP via Getty Images 7/35 Police forensics officers at the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex, after 39 bodies were found inside a lorry on the industrial estate PA 8/35 Police activity at the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex, after 39 bodies were found inside a lorry container on the industrial estat PA 9/35 Police and forensic officers investigate a lorry in which 39 bodies were discovered in the trailer Getty Images 10/35 A Police forensic investigation team are parked near the site where 39 bodies were discovered in the back of a lorry Getty Images 11/35 The container lorry where 39 people were found dead inside leaves Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex PA 12/35 People gather to watch as a lorry, in which 39 bodies were discovered in the trailer, is driven from the site to a secure location where further forensic investigation can take place Getty Images 13/35 Police officers drive away a lorry in which 39 dead bodies were discovered sparking a murder investigation at Waterglade Industrial Park in Gray AFP via Getty Images 14/35 Police officers drive away a lorry, with black plastic visible at the rear, in which 39 dead bodies were discovered sparking a murder investigation at Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, AFP via Getty Images 15/35 The container lorry where 39 people were found dead inside leaves Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex PA 16/35 A lorry in which 39 bodies were discovered in the trailer is driven from the site to a secure location where further forensic investigation can take place Getty Images 17/35 The container lorry where 39 people were found dead inside leaves Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex PA 18/35 The container lorry where 39 people were found dead inside leaves Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex, PA 19/35 Police forensics officers at the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex PA 20/35 Police and forensic officers inspect the site where 39 bodies were discovered in the back of a lorry Getty Images 21/35 PA 22/35 Police stand near the site where 39 bodies were discovered in the back of a lorry in Thurrock, England Getty Images 23/35 An aerial view as police forensic officers attend the scene after a truck, seen at centre, was found to contain a large number of dead bodies, in Thurrock AP 24/35 Jeremy Selwyn 25/35 An aerial view as police forensic officers attend the scene after a truck was found to contain a large number of dead bodies, in Thurock AP 26/35 Police stand near the site where 39 bodies were discovered in the back of a lorry in Thurrock, England Getty Images 27/35 Sky News 28/35 Police stand near the site where 39 bodies were discovered in the back of a lorry in Thurrock, England. The lorry was discovered early Wednesday morning in Waterglade Industrial Park on Eastern Avenue in the town of Grays. Authorities said they believed the lorry originated in Bulgaria and entered the country at Holyhead on October 19. The suspected driver was arrested in connection with the investigation Getty Images 29/35 Sky News 30/35 Sky News 31/35 Sky News 32/35 Sky News 33/35 Sky News 34/35 Sky News 35/35 Sky News 1/35 Police activity at the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex, after 39 bodies were found inside a lorry container on the industrial estate. PA 2/35 Thirty-nine bodies, including one of a teenager, have been found in a lorry container in Essex. The bodies were found in a lorry on the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays Sky News 3/35 A forensic officer inside the cab of a lorry at the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex PA 4/35 Police and forensic officers investigate a lorry in which 39 bodies were discovered in the trailer Getty Images 5/35 A Police forensic investigation team at the site where 39 bodies were discovered in the back of a lorry Jeremy Selwyn 6/35 Flowers are pictured by a road sign on Eastern Avenue at Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays AFP via Getty Images 7/35 Police forensics officers at the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex, after 39 bodies were found inside a lorry on the industrial estate PA 8/35 Police activity at the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex, after 39 bodies were found inside a lorry container on the industrial estat PA 9/35 Police and forensic officers investigate a lorry in which 39 bodies were discovered in the trailer Getty Images 10/35 A Police forensic investigation team are parked near the site where 39 bodies were discovered in the back of a lorry Getty Images 11/35 The container lorry where 39 people were found dead inside leaves Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex PA 12/35 People gather to watch as a lorry, in which 39 bodies were discovered in the trailer, is driven from the site to a secure location where further forensic investigation can take place Getty Images 13/35 Police officers drive away a lorry in which 39 dead bodies were discovered sparking a murder investigation at Waterglade Industrial Park in Gray AFP via Getty Images 14/35 Police officers drive away a lorry, with black plastic visible at the rear, in which 39 dead bodies were discovered sparking a murder investigation at Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, AFP via Getty Images 15/35 The container lorry where 39 people were found dead inside leaves Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex PA 16/35 A lorry in which 39 bodies were discovered in the trailer is driven from the site to a secure location where further forensic investigation can take place Getty Images 17/35 The container lorry where 39 people were found dead inside leaves Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex PA 18/35 The container lorry where 39 people were found dead inside leaves Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex, PA 19/35 Police forensics officers at the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex PA 20/35 Police and forensic officers inspect the site where 39 bodies were discovered in the back of a lorry Getty Images 21/35 PA 22/35 Police stand near the site where 39 bodies were discovered in the back of a lorry in Thurrock, England Getty Images 23/35 An aerial view as police forensic officers attend the scene after a truck, seen at centre, was found to contain a large number of dead bodies, in Thurrock AP 24/35 Jeremy Selwyn 25/35 An aerial view as police forensic officers attend the scene after a truck was found to contain a large number of dead bodies, in Thurock AP 26/35 Police stand near the site where 39 bodies were discovered in the back of a lorry in Thurrock, England Getty Images 27/35 Sky News 28/35 Police stand near the site where 39 bodies were discovered in the back of a lorry in Thurrock, England. The lorry was discovered early Wednesday morning in Waterglade Industrial Park on Eastern Avenue in the town of Grays. Authorities said they believed the lorry originated in Bulgaria and entered the country at Holyhead on October 19. The suspected driver was arrested in connection with the investigation Getty Images 29/35 Sky News 30/35 Sky News 31/35 Sky News 32/35 Sky News 33/35 Sky News 34/35 Sky News 35/35 Sky News

"Essex police have now launched a murder investigation.

"A 25-year-old man from Northern Ireland has been arrested on suspicion of murder. He remains in police custody as enquires continue.

"I think the whole house will agree that this is a truly shocking incident.

"My thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones at this utterly terrible time.

"While the nationalities of the victims are not yet known, I have asked my officials to work closely with the investigation, providing all assistance we can in these horrific circumstances."

Essex Police has set up a casualty bureau for anyone to call if they have concerns about relatives who may be involved.

Aerial footage from the scene shows forensic officers walking in and out of the lorry and two tents have been erected - one in front of the lorry and one behind it with police vehicles on either side.

Police have taped off the area as they investigate.

Reporting by PA.