Vietnam arrests two people over 39 bodies found in UK lorry

Many of the deceased are believed to have come from Vietnam

Prime Minister Boris Johnson lays flowers in Essex. Reuters

Vietnamese police arrested two people and summoned others for questioning on Friday over the deaths of 39 people found dead in the back of a refrigerated lorry in the UK last week.

After 10 Vietnamese families reported their relatives missing, fearing they were among the 39 victims, Ha Tinh regional police launched a criminal investigation into suspected human trafficking, a statement said.

Two people have been arrested and others brought in for questioning. The investigation is likely to look at similar incidents that occurred over the last five years.

On October 26, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc ordered an investigation into alleged human trafficking activities after British police said at least some of the dead may have come from the Southeast Asian country.

UK police have charged the lorry's driver, 25-year-old Maurice Robinson, with the manslaughter of the 39 deceased.

Police have asked two other suspects, Ronan and Christopher Hughes, to turn themselves in.