Shocking footage shows the moment migrants were discovered by police hiding in the back of a lorry on the M25.
The group were travelling in the vehicle when they were discovered at a truck stop at Waltham Abbey on Tuesday, it is understood.
Police rushed to the scene and could be seen helping the migrants, who were dressed in designer Adidas tracksuit bottoms and tops, exit the lorry.
Eyewitnesses said the group brought ‘chaos’ to the station, with several police vehicles attending the incident, while paramedics were also at the scene.
Essex Police confirmed they have arrested six men and two women who were located inside the lorry.
It comes as the man suspected of killing a 49-year-old dog walker in a knife attack in Uxbridge was revealed to be an Afghan national who arrived in the UK in a lorry five years ago.
Wayne Broadhurst died during the attack which left two other people injured on Midhurst Gardens in west London at around 5pm on Monday.
The 22-year-old Afghan suspect is being quizzed by police who are holding him on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.
A group of migrants were travelling in a lorry (pictured) when they were discovered at a truck stop at Waltham Abbey on Tuesday, it is understood
Migrants are guided down a ladder to safety with their possessions after they were discovered hiding inside the large vehicle
Migrants made several thousand attempts to hide on UK-bound vehicles at the Channel ports last year.
There were 5,874 detections at ports on the continent, including Calais, Dunkirk and the Channel Tunnel in Coquelles, up from 4,794 in 2023, figures obtained by BBC South East show.
Newly emerged footage shows a flood of police cars and vans parked at the truck stop in Waltham Abbey yesterday to help migrants out of the packed lorry.
Men dressed in designer gear are seen being guided down a ladder to safety after they were discovered hiding inside the large vehicle.
A source who witnessed the incident said: ‘It was a very shocking scene. With the autumn and winter months approaching, there is always an increase in lorry crossings because small boat journeys become more dangerous.
‘They caused chaos. The place came to a standstill. Police swooped in and paramedics were on hand as well.’
The source added: ‘All the migrants looked fine but were checked over. They were then asked questions about what had happened and what had brought them to Britain.’
It comes as the man suspected of killing a 49-year-old dog walker in a knife attack in Uxbridge was revealed to be an Afghan national who arrived in the UK in a lorry five years ago. Pictured: The suspect being arrested by police
Shouts of ‘get on the floor’ and demands to drop a weapon were heard as the suspect was stopped by police in Uxbridge
The man who filmed the dramatic footage joined the Metropolitan Police Force in 1982 and served as a detective with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) – before retiring in 2010 with over 60 commendations.
Essex Police today said in a statement: ‘We have arrested six men and two women who were located inside a lorry on Tuesday 28 October.
‘They were disembarked at the lorry park at junction 26 of the M25 (anti-clockwise).
‘All those involved were assessed by ambulance staff before being taken into custody on suspicion of immigration offences, where they remain.
‘The driver was arrested at the time on suspicion of facilitating illegal entry into the UK, but has since been released without charge.’
This year, the government said it was taking crucial steps to clamp down on all forms of people smuggling.
