Update: 1935 hrs
Police can now confirm that they believe the man who was found dead in a container at Tilbury Docks on Saturday August 16 to be Meet Singh Kapoor, aged 40, from Afghanistan.
Update: 1800 hrs
All of the persons who were found in container on Saturday have left hospital and are in the care of the Border Force, YT believes they applied for political asylum.
Update: Monday 1700 hrs
Essex Police and Home Office officials are today continuing with their investigations following the discovery of 35 people in a container at the Port of Tilbury at the weekend.
Supt Trevor Roe, of Essex Police, also thanked the agencies that had helped to look after the people following their ordeal, as well as supporting the police during the incident.
The men, women and children were found inside the container by port staff just after 6.30am on Saturday, August 16. Unfortunately one man was dead.
Four people remain in Southend Hospital today (Monday) where they continue to receive treatment. It is hoped the two adults and two children will be well enough to leave hospital later today and will be able to speak to officers about their ordeal.
The other 30, who include nine men, eight women and 13 children have finished speaking to police and are now being cared for by Home Office officials.
The post mortem examination on the deceased man, believed to be in his 40s, was carried out yesterday (Sunday). The cause of death has not yet been established and enquiries are continuing.
Officers from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate have launched a homicide investigation. They are working with the Home Office and the National Crime Agency to look at how the people, believed to be from Afghanistan and predominantly of the Sikh faith, came to be in the container.
The container was placed on a P&O ferry which travelled from Zeebrugge.
Supt Trevor Roe of Essex Police said: "Tragically, one man died on the voyage and the investigation into his death is now being led by us. These people were found in an awful situation and our main priority is to look after them and ensure they are now safe following what would have been a horrendous ordeal.”
He added: "I would like to thank the East of England Ambulance Service, the Home Office’s Border Force and immigration teams, the Port of Tilbury authorities, the National Crime Agency, the Red Cross and members of the local Sikh community for their help and efforts during this incident.”
Update: Sunday 2030 hrs
Footage inside terminal
Sunday 1915 hrs
Update from Essex Police
Essex Police can confirm that the number of people found inside the container at the Port of Tilbury is 35, including the man that died.
Four people are still in Southend Hospital, where it is thought they will remain overnight. Their details are being determined.
The other 30 people are still being spoken to about their ordeal. Once this is finished they will be passed into the care of the Border Force. They include nine men and eight women aged between 18 and 72-years-old. They also include 13 children, aged between one and 12-years-old.
The post mortem examination on the deceased man was carried out today (Sunday) at Basildon Hospital. The cause of his death is subject to further tests. He is believed to be in his 40s.
Police and Border Force officers are continuing with their enquiries into this tragic incident.
Sunday 1500 hrs
Update from Essex Police
Essex Police and Border Force officers are continuing with their enquiries today following the discovery of 35 people in a container at the Port of Tilbury on the morning of Saturday, August 16.
The group of men, women and children was found inside the container by port staff just after 6.30am. Unfortunately one man was discovered to be dead inside. The other 34 people were taken for treatment at Southend, Basildon and the Royal London hospitals.
Superintendent Trevor Roe, of Essex Police, said: "This is a tragic incident where a man has sadly died. Our thoughts and sympathies are with his relatives. Officers from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate have launched a homicide investigation to find out what happened.”
Thirty people treated at hospitals have now been released and are currently in the care of Essex Police and Border Force staff at the Port of Tilbury. Four remain at Southend Hospital but it is hoped they will be well enough to be discharged later today.
All of the people will be taken care of by the Border Force in a suitable location once we have finished speaking to them.
Superintendent Roe added: "The welfare and health of the people is our priority at this stage. Now they are well enough, our officers and colleagues from the Border Force will be speaking to them via interpreters so we can piece together what happened and how they came to be in the container. We now understand that they are from Afghanistan and are of the Sikh faith. We have had a good deal of help from partners within the local Sikh community in the Tilbury area to ensure that these poor people, who would have been through a horrific ordeal, are supported in terms of their religious and clothing needs. The Red Cross are also helping; they have provided food and welfare help for the people overnight. We are grateful for their support and I would like to say a big thank you to them.”
Essex Police, Border Force and the National Crime Agency, will continue with their investigations today. Officers are liaising with Belgian police and Interpol. The Port of Tilbury authorities have helped the police and Border Force efforts throughout. The port has reopened for business as usual and is continuing with its operations. All of the containers on board the ship have been searched and no further people have been found. There were initial concerns that a further container with people inside may have come into port at Purfleet but this is not the case.
A casualty bureau has been set up for anybody who is concerned about a friend or relative to call. People living in the UK should call 0800 0560944 and people outside of the UK can call 0207 1580010. So far we have received around a dozen calls to the bureau.
Sunday: 1145 hrs
Police are hoping to question some of the people found inside a shipping container at a port, as they continue to investigate the death of one man.
Essex Police described the men, women and children – all believed to be from the Indian subcontinent – as victims of "people trafficking".
They also launched a "homicide investigation" after the man’s death.
Police are working with Interpol and other international authorities to try to establish what happened.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs said it had contacted UK authorities but added that the nationality of the survivors had yet to be established.
A P&O spokesman said the Norstream was carrying more than 50 containers, 72 trailers and five lorries plus their drivers on the crossing from Belgium.
Essex Police were last night liaising with colleagues in Belgium to try to find the lorry driver who had driven the container to Belgium.
Belgian police believe images of the lorry have been captured on CCTV. They do not, however, have any information yet about where the vehicle began its journey.
Update: 1830 hrs
Statement from Essex Police
Essex Police is continuing with its investigations following the discovery of a container of people at the Port of Tilbury this morning (Saturday, August 16).
Thirty five people, believed to be from the Indian sub-continent, were found inside. Unfortunately one man was pronounced dead at the scene. The others, who are men, women and children, were taken for treatment at Southend, Basildon and the Royal London Hospitals. They are not thought to be in a serious condition. Once they have been treated they will be taken to a reception centre.
The container was on a P&O container ferry which docked at the port at 6.37am today (Saturday, August 16). The other 50 containers on board the vessel have been searched and no further people have been found.
Investigations are continuing to establish who the deceased was and who the other people are and where they come from. Once they have been treated in hospital they will be spoken to by officers from Essex Police before being referred to the UK Border Agencies. A casualty bureau has been set up for anybody who is concerned about a friend or relative to call. People living in the UK should call 0800 0560944 and people outside of the UK can call 0207 1580010.
Update: 1815 hrs
Statement from Basildon hospital
Earlier today eleven adults and seven children were admitted to Basildon Hospital, cold and dehydrated.
After treatment all have recovered well, and all are now medically fit enough to be discharged.
The hospital is open to visitors as normal.
Update: 1530 hrs
From Basildon hospital
Earlier today eleven adults and seven children were admitted to Basildon Hospital, cold and dehydrated.
After treatment all are making a rapid recovery. It is likely that they will all be medically fit for discharge later today.
The hospital is open to visitors as normal.
Update: 1310 hrs
Statement from Basildon hospital
Basildon Hospital is currently providing treatment for 18 people who have recently arrived at Tilbury Dock, including seven young children.
They have all been admitted for rehydration and ongoing assessment. The hospital is open as normal, however visitors to A&E are being told to expect delays.
Update: 1300 hrs
Press Conference held at the port of Tilbury
Essex Police and East of England hosted a joint press conference.
Supt Trevor Roes
The key points were
1. This is a homicide investigation.
2. The illnesses being treated are dehydration and hypothermia
3. No details of age of deceased
4. No conformation of number of children.
5. The people are believed to be from the Indian sub continent
6. Any decontamination zones in hospitals are as a precaution.
7. Container is the size you would expect from a large HGV.
8. Police remind us that the scene is a crime scene.
9. Cannot confirm all from same country. Languages could cut across tribal factions.
10. Most of the paramedics have returned to duties
11. The primary goal is to deal "with what we have in front of us" says Essex Police
12. We will interview the survivors say police.
13. Major Investigation Team deployed to find out whoever is involved and bring them to justice.
14. 50 containers being searched.
Update: 1235 hrs
Of the 34 people taken to hospital.
18 are at Basildon hospital
7 are at Southend hospital
9 are at London Whitechapel.
Update: 1220 hrs
Essex Police have set up a casualty bureau for people to call if they are concerned about relatives following the incident at Tilbury docks this morning.
The Casualty Bureau Numbers are 0800 0560944 (UK) or 0207 1580010 if dialling from outside the UK.
Update: 1108 hrs
Statement from Basildon Hospital
Basildon Hospital is currently providing treatment for 18 people who have recently arrived at Tilbury Dock, including seven children.
They are all being admitted for rehydration and ongoing assessment. Our A&E is open, but people should expect delays.
Update: 1105 hrs
Public Health England say they are NOT currently involved in the Tilbury Docks incident.
They have not been notified of any Ebola risk
Update 1100 hrs
Nineteen have been taken to Basildon hospital from the port of Tilbury incident.
They have "significant health problems"
Several are children.
Darent Valley hospital in Kent on standby.
Update: 0940 hrs
Essex Police officers have launched an investigation following the discovery of a container of people at Tilbury Docks.
The container, on a ship from Zeebrugge, was being unloaded this morning (Saturday, August 16).
Essex Police received a call at 7.35am from the Port of Tilbury authorities. Thirty one people, including adults and children of both genders, were found inside.
One man has sadly died and the others have significant health problems. They are being treated by ambulance crews and are being taken to local hospitals.
Essex Police is working in partnership with the Port of Tilbury, UK Border Force and the East of England Ambulance Service.
A casualty bureau is in the process of being set up.
Update: 0936 hrs
Statement: Basildon Hospital is responding to a major incident. A&E is open, but please be aware that waiting times may be extended.
Update: 0930 hrs
At 6.37am this morning (16th August), the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust was called to Tilbury Docks in Essex to treat 32 people who had been found in a container. We sent seven ambulances, two rapid response cars, a patient transport services vehicle, two duty operational managers, two BASICS doctors and our hazardous area response team (HART), a number of which are still on scene.
Our initial priority is to assess the level and nature of any injuries, and ensure that those people in most need are treated first and taken to hospital. At present, we have taken two patients to Basildon and Thurrock Hospital and are still on scene treating and triaging others.
We are working closely with other members of the emergency services at the scene, with our priority to ensure patients receive the medical help they need as quickly as possible.
Update 0930 hrs
Unconfirmed report that 13 suspected illegal immigrants 4 of which are children, found unwell at Tilbury Docks being treated at Basildon Hospital.
Update: 0900 hrs
Ambulance service will be issuing a statement shortly.
Incident: 0830 hrs
YT has received a report of an incident at the port of Tilbury.
More to follow.
