Minister of Public Security Tô Lâm speaks with Priti Patel, Home Secretary of the UK, on the co-ordination of work in defining the identities of the victims in the incident where 39 people were found dead in a container truck in the UK on October 23. — VNA/VNS Photo Doãn Tấn

HÀ NỘI — General Tô Lâm, Politburo member and Minister of Public Security, spoke on the telephone on Wednesday afternoon with Priti Patel, Home Secretary of the UK, on the co-ordination of work in establishing the identities of victims believed to be Vietnamese nationals, in the incident where 39 people were found dead in a container truck in the UK on October 23.

During the talks, Minister Lâm highlighted that the Government, the Ministry of Public Security and the people of Việt Nam are very attentive to and regret the incident in Essex. After receiving information on the incident, the ministry promptly and proactively directed its units and localities to quickly conduct verification, collect information and stand ready to work with the UK side when requested.

The two sides also exchanged ideas on a number of relevant issues, and agreed on various important contents in the co-ordination.

Lâm thanked the secretary for her goodwill in co-operating and sharing information on the incident. He also affirmed that the ministry has been and will be continuing to closely co-operate with relevant authorities of the UK to investigate the case.

The verification of information and identities of the victims is very urgent, that is why the ministry is ready to send working teams to the UK to work with its police in investigating and verifying identities of the victims.

The minister asked that in case there are Vietnamese among the victims, the UK side facilitate citizen protection in line with the laws of the UK and Việt Nam, as well as international law and practices. He also expressed his hope that the UK will take measures to stabilise security and safety of Vietnamese citizens studying and working in the UK, and that the two sides will boost their effective co-operation in the fields of mutual concern. — VNS