Police called to lorry on Wednesday morning, where 39 bodies were found

Officers say trailer travelled from Zeebrugge, Belgium, into Purfleet, Essex

Lorry driver, 25, from Northern Ireland, arrested on suspicion of murder

Driver arrested named locally as Mo Robinson

Trailer arrived at Purfleet at 12.30am, the bodies were found at 1.40am

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Mo Robinson, pictured in a social media image, is reportedly the man arrested in connection with the 39 deaths. (Sky News) More

This is the first picture of the man believed to be the Northern Irish lorry driver arrested on suspicion of murder after 39 bodies were found in a lorry container in Essex.

Mo Robinson, 25, was named locally on Wednesday as the man being held by Essex Police after 38 adults and one teen were discovered in the vehicle on an industrial estate in Thurrock.

Investigators have said the lorry, which is registered in Bulgaria, was discovered at around 1.40am at the Waterglade Industrial Park in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Police have said the trailer travelled from Zeebrugge into Purfleet, and docked in the Thurrock area shortly after 12:30am this morning.

Detectives said the front tractor unit of the vehicle is believed to have originated in Northern Ireland.

The container lorry where 39 people were found dead inside leaves the industrial estate on Wednesday afternoon, where it was to be moved to a secure location. More

Grays lorry moved to secure location More

None of the victims’ identities or nationalities have been officially given.

An Essex Police statement on Wednesday afternoon said: “Originally, we reported that the lorry had travelled into the country through Holyhead on Saturday 19 October.

“After further enquiries, we now believe that the trailer travelled from Zeebrugge into Purfleet, and docked in the Thurrock area shortly after 12:30am this morning. The tractor unit of the lorry is believed to have originated in Northern Ireland.

“We believe the lorry and trailer left the port shortly after 1.05am.”

Boris Johnson earlier said he was “appalled” by the discovery of the bodies, and that those responsible for the deaths “should be hunted down”.

Essex Police said it was called by the ambulance service shortly before 1.40am on Wednesday following the discovery of a lorry container with people inside.

All 39 people were pronounced dead at the scene.

Early indications suggest there 38 are adults and one teenager inside the container, police said (SWNS) More

Police have said tracking the route of the lorry "will be a key line of inquiry" amid concerns it may have made its way to the British mainland unchecked by avoiding strict controls at Calais and Dover.

Thurrock MP Jackie Doyle-Price said the people smugglers responsible must be caught.

She told the House of Commons: "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."

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