Chinese media: 'Britain must accept responsibility for Essex incident'

The Chinese media on October 25, claimed that Britain and other European countries must accept some responsibility for the deaths of 39 people that are believed to be Chinese nationals and were found dead in a refrigerated truck near London. The international media claims that at the moment it was impossible to say how much responsibility the dead should bear for the tragedy but such a serious humanitarian disaster has occurred under the eyes of the British and Europeans and has failed to fulfill their responsibility to protect the people from such a tragedy.

The bodies of 31 men and eight women were reportedly discovered on Wednesday, October 23, on an industrial estate at Grays in Essex. Reports that the bodies of the dead were believed to be Chinese nationals was further confirmed by the British police. The Chinese media hopes that Britain and European countries will put into effect their various commitments to human rights and make due efforts for Chinese people to be free from abuse and sudden death. However, a statement on the embassy website stated that the police are verifying the identity of the victims and their nationality still cannot be confirmed. 

READ: China Embassy Staff Visit Essex To Identify Bodies Found In The Truck

Chinese embassy staff to visit England

The Foreign Ministry on October 24, reportedly announced that staff from the Chinese embassy were heading to Essex in Britain to verify reports of whether the 39 people who were found dead in a truck were its nationals. The unverified Twitter account attributed to China's UK ambassador, Liu Xiaoming claimed that the Chinese government is in close contact with the UK police who discovered the 39 bodies from a lorry container on Wednesday, October 23.

READ: Essex Lorry Deaths: All 39 Victims Were Chinese Nationals, Say Police

The incident

The lorry was found parked in Waterglade Industrial Park in southeast England. Police have launched a multiple-murder investigation and have arrested the 25-year-old lorry driver. All the 39 people, including a teenager, were declared dead at the scene, reported British media. The police, who are now working on the identification of the bodies, stated that it will be a “lengthy process given the scale of the crime". According to media reports, the lorry was registered in Bulgaria and it had entered the county through Holyhead, Wales on October 19. Police have thrown a security cordon at the Waterglade Industrial Park. Chief Superintendent Andrew Mariner said the security will affect local businesses in the area but that they will try to ensure the disruption is kept short.

READ: ‘Appalled’ By Essex Incident, Receiving Regular Updates: Boris Johnson

READ: Essex: 39 Bodies Found In Lorry, Police Launch Multiple-murder Probe