Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


UK Police Identify Truck Victims; 10 Teenagers Among 39 Dead

Associated Press

   LONDON - Ten teenagers were among the 39 Vietnamese found dead in a
   truck container in southeast England last month, local police said
   Friday while relaying for the first time details of those who died.

   The scope of the tragedy became clear as police released the names and
   ages of those who died in one of Britain's worst incidents of people
   smuggling.

   Two of the dead were only 15, while the oldest was 44. Some 20 of the
   victims came from one province -- Nghe An in north central Vietnam,
   around 200 kilometers (120 miles) south of Hanoi.

   Police suggested they waited until the entire identification process
   was complete before releasing details of those who died.

   "Our priority has been to identify the victims, to preserve the dignity
   of those who have died and to support the victims' friends and
   families," said Assistant Chief Constable Tim Smith.

   "It remained of paramount importance to us to ensure that an
   individual's next of kin were informed, and that they were given some
   time to absorb this tragic news before we publicly confirmed their
   loved one's identity."

   The authorities worked with Vietnamese police and the coroner to
   identify the bodies found Oct. 23 in the back of a truck in an
   industrial park in the English town of Grays.

.