New | Dead body and 34 stowaways found crammed in container at British port
Police suspect homicide in death of one person in a group of stowaways believed to have come from India
A dead man and at least 34 survivors, including women and children, have been found inside a shipping container in Britain, emergency officials say.
The people, who were in poor health, were found packed inside the container as workers were unloading the cargo at Tilbury docks in Essex, east of London, on Saturday morning, police said.
Officials reported hearing bangs and screams coming from the container, which arrived aboard a P&O cargo vessel from Zeebrugge, Belgium.
Earlier reports said there were seven children among the stowaways.
Police say they have yet to identify the dead man but suspect that many of those hiding in the container are from India.
Paramedics and other emergency officials treated the stowaways for hypothermia and dehydration. The survivors were transferred to three hospitals.
“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,” an Essex Police spokesman said.