Essex lorry deaths: Man arrested on suspicion of manslaughter over 39 bodies found in trailer

Thirty-six-year-old, from Purfleet, also held on suspicion of conspiracy to traffic people and assist unlawful immigration

Thirty-nine people were found dead in the lorry in Grays, Essex (PA)

A 36-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the deaths of 39 Vietnamese people whose bodies were found in a lorry in Essex, police have said.

The man, from Purfleet, was arrested on Monday morning at a property in Dalston, east London.

He was also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to traffic people and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration, Essex Police said.

The man remains in custody for questioning.

His arrest came after the lorry driver accused over the deaths of 39 migrants pleaded guilty on Monday to assisting illegal immigration.

Maurice Robinson, 25, of County Armagh, Northern Ireland, entered the plea at the Old Bailey via video link from Belmarsh prison.

He is also charged with the manslaughter of the men, women and children found dead inside a refrigerated trailer in Gray in the early hours of 23 October.

Ten teenagers, including two 15-year-old boys, were among the victims.