3 nabbed for ‘freezer bodies’

In total, eight women and 31 men were found dead in the refrigeration trailer on Wednesday.

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — British police investigating the discovery of 39 bodies in a truck said Friday they had arrested three more people, as a security source in Hanoi said some of the victims could be Vietnamese.

The horrific case has shocked Britain and turned the spotlight onto the dangers of human trafficking.

Police initially believed the victims were all Chinese nationals, but said Friday that the “picture may change” on identification.

A Vietnamese man told AFP he feared his sister, 26-year-old Pham Thi Tra My, was among the dead and said she had sent a heart-wrenching message to their mother before her death.

My left Vietnam on 3 October en route to the United Kingdom and Pham Manh Cuong said their mother received a text message from her just hours before the truck was found in Britain.

“I’m sorry Mom. My path to abroad doesn’t succeed. Mom, I love you so much! I’m dying bcoz I can’t breathe,” she said in the message shared by the Vietnam-based Human Rights Space.

Her brother confirmed to AFP the text message was authentic.

Essex deputy chief constable Pippa Mills said police would not be “speculating” on the nationalities of the victims, calling it a “developing picture.”

In total, eight women and 31 men were found dead in the refrigeration trailer on Wednesday.