HÀ NỘI — Two people in Hà Tĩnh Province have been arrested in connection to the deaths of 39 people whose bodies were found in the back of a lorry in the UK last week, provincial police said on Friday.
The two suspects’ identities have not been made public as the investigation is ongoing. 
They also said a number of persons of interest have also been summoned for questioning.
Police launched an investigation after 10 families in Hà Tĩnh reported losing contact with relatives that were en route to England after the shocking discovery in Essex, near London on October 23.
Nguyễn Tiến Nam, deputy chief of Hà Tĩnh police, said after a probe was formally launched on October 30, they began working with the Ministry of Public Security and police forces from other neighbouring provinces – especially Nghệ An, where more than 20 families have reported missing relatives – to investigate potential organised efforts to bring people overseas illegally. 
Police have collected DNA samples from members of said families to send to the UK to help identify the identities of the deceased.
The news came after police in the UK launched an appeal for two brothers from Northern Ireland to hand themselves in for questioning.
Another man from Northern Ireland, Maurice Robinson, was charged on Monday with the manslaughter of the 39 victims, as well as money laundering, conspiracy to traffic people and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. — VNS