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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Eight people found inside tanker | Eight people found inside tanker |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Eight suspected illegal immigrants who were found in a chemical tanker have been arrested with the vehicle's driver on suspicion of immigration offences. | |
| The eight people, including two boys aged 12 and 16, were taken to hospital after breathing in gas created by a chemical in the truck. | The eight people, including two boys aged 12 and 16, were taken to hospital after breathing in gas created by a chemical in the truck. |
| Fire crews were called to Abbey Wood, south-east London, after reports of a chemical incident. | Fire crews were called to Abbey Wood, south-east London, after reports of a chemical incident. |
| Officers said the eight people were believed to be from Eritrea. | Officers said the eight people were believed to be from Eritrea. |
| They are now being held on suspicion of immigration offences. | They are now being held on suspicion of immigration offences. |
| The Home Office's Border and Immigration Agency said it was investigating the incident. | |
| 'Breathing problems' | 'Breathing problems' |
| A statement from Thames Water said the truck was bound for Crossness Sewage Treatment Works and contained a substance used for filtering water. | |
| "The truck is filled with a substance known as "activated lignite coke" - resembling a fine powder similar to crushed BBQ briquettes. | |
| "This substance is made from carbon, is non-toxic and poses no public health risk." | |
| Earlier the driver, 55, was questioned about the incident on Harrow Manorway in Abbey Wood, south London. | Earlier the driver, 55, was questioned about the incident on Harrow Manorway in Abbey Wood, south London. |
| A 100m cordon was put in place on a section of the dual-carriageway to allow officers to check the tanker. The vehicle has now been removed from the scene. | A 100m cordon was put in place on a section of the dual-carriageway to allow officers to check the tanker. The vehicle has now been removed from the scene. |
| A Metropolitan Police spokesman said they were called by the driver after he stopped to check his load. | A Metropolitan Police spokesman said they were called by the driver after he stopped to check his load. |
| 'Clamping down' | |
| London Ambulance Service (LAS) sent a hazardous area response team, an air ambulance, four ambulances and a fast response car to the scene. | London Ambulance Service (LAS) sent a hazardous area response team, an air ambulance, four ambulances and a fast response car to the scene. |
| An LAS spokesman said the eight people were suffering "minor breathing problems". | An LAS spokesman said the eight people were suffering "minor breathing problems". |
| The tanker is owned by H Freund, a German company with offices in Frechen, west Germany, and Runcorn, Cheshire. | The tanker is owned by H Freund, a German company with offices in Frechen, west Germany, and Runcorn, Cheshire. |
| The company said it was liaising with the authorities over the circumstances of the incident. | The company said it was liaising with the authorities over the circumstances of the incident. |
| A Border and Immigration Agency spokeswoman said: "There will inevitably be some occasions when illegal entrants manage to penetrate our borders unlawfully, and some do so in lorries... | |
| "EU counterparts are clamping down on clandestine entry into the UK." |