Shock as police pull over lorry to find family of migrants inside including TODDLER
THIS is the moment a lorry full of migrants including a toddler declared “we are from Europe” after being pulled over by police.
Police arrested eight adults on suspicion of entering the UK illegally
The incident was captured on video by electrician Tom Andrews who was passing the vehicle as officers made the discovery.
The Italian truck was stopped on Ashton Road in Harold Hill, east London, shortly after midday with eight migrants and three children, including a toddler, inside.
A police officer, stood in front of the lorry packed with migrants sitting on boxes, shouted: "Do you speak English? Where are you from?"
Police were called to reports of the sound of banging coming from the back of a lorry
A man in the lorry replied: "Europe."
Police were called after passersbys reportedly heard the sound of banging coming from inside the lorry.
Eight adults were arrested on suspicion of illegal entry into the UK.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said eight adults and three children were taken into custody on suspicion of entering the UK illegally.
He said: "Police in Havering were called to Ashton Road, Harold Hill, at approximately 11.30am on Wednesday, 15 June, to reports of the sound of banging coming from the back of a lorry.
"Officers opened the cargo container and found 11 people - eight adults and three children - inside.
"No one was injured.
Three children, including one toddler, were also found in the lorry in Harold Hill
Police surrounded the lorry in Ashton Road, Harold Hill
"The eight adults - we await a breakdown - were arrested on suspicion of illegal entry into the UK.
"The children were taken into police protection."
The Home Office has been approached for comment.
A man in the lorry told police he was from Europe
Police made the arrests just days after officers in Kent discovered nine migrants hiding in the back of a lorry in Kent.
The group were discovered travelling down the A256 in Sandwich, Kent, on Monday evening, and have now been handed over to the Home Office.
The incidents come a week after three migrants were caught trying to reach the UK in a dinghy and has sparked fears that beaches in Kent are being targeted as migrants try to reach Britain from Calais and Dunkirk.