Pictured: Police identify two men wanted over Essex lorry deaths
Police have released the names of two men they want to speak to in connection with the discovery of 39 bodies in an Essex lorry last week.
Ronan Hughes, 40, and Christopher Hughes, 34, who are brothers from Armagh in Northern Ireland, are wanted on suspicion of manslaughter and human trafficking.
Read more: Police make new arrests over Essex lorry deaths
Ronan, who also goes by Rowan, and Christopher also have links to the Irish Republic.
“At this time we believe they are in Northern Ireland but they also have links to the Irish Republic,” said detective chief superintendent Stuart Hooper.
“If you know where they are or have any information about their whereabouts I need you to call my team.”
“This is a case where 39 men and women have tragically died and support from the community is going to be vital to help bring those responsible to justice,” Hooper added.
People can contact police by phoning 101 or online at the UK Police Major Incident Public Reporting site.
Police have so far arrested four people over the deaths of eight women and 31 men after discovering the lorry in Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays last week.
The lorry’s driver, Mo Robinson, 25, from Craigavon in Northern Ireland, has been charged with 39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to traffic people, and money laundering.
He is set to appear at the Old Bailey on 25 November.
Three others – a 38-year-old man, a 38-year-old woman and a 46-year-old man have been bailed until November.
A UK-based Vietnamese community has provided police photos of around 20 people reported missing by their families.
Essex Police initially said those who died were all Chinese nationals but has since refrained from identifying nationalities, saying the situation was a “developing picture”.
Read more: Vietnamese group gives police photos of 20 missing people
It follows reports of messages sent from a missing 26-year-old Vietnamese woman to her family shortly before the bodies were found.
Identified on Twitter by Human Rights Space coordinator Hoa Nghiem, Tra My is reported to have text her family saying: “So sorry mum and dad. The route to abroad didn’t succeed. Mum. I love you and dad so much. I am dying because I can’t breathe. I am from Can Loc Ha Tinh. Vietnam. Mum. I’m very sorry.”
This is a breaking news story. More to follow.