Austrian Police say 10 migrants found dead in truck were Iraqis

The 71 migrants found dead in a lorry in Austria last month included at least 10 Iraqi adults, Austrian police said September 23.

Nearly a month after they suffocated in the sealed vehicle, nine men and one woman from Iraq were the first to be identified. Four of the bodies have been handed over to their families.

Confirmation of further identities is expected soon as relatives have provided valuable information, police spokesman Gerald Gangl said. He added it might be weeks or even months before the names of all the victims are known.

"One has to take into account that DNA samples have to be obtained from countries such as Afghanistan," Gangl said, explaining why the process will take time.

Forensic investigations suggest that the migrants suffocated half an hour after the lorry started its trip in the Hungarian capital Budapest, and that they were already dead when the vehicle entered Austria.

Five suspects have been arrested in Hungary, and one man is being held in Bulgaria in connection with the case.

Thursday 24 September 2015

http://www.rferl.org/content/austrian-police-say-10-migrants-found-dead-in-truck-were-iraqis/27266994.html