Six Migrants Found Crammed in Truck on A34 After 12-Hour Ordeal
Police made a dramatic stop early Friday after a motorist spotted hands and arms poking out of a truck believed to have come all the way from Spain.
Motorist Spots Shocking Scene on A34
Just after 5am, a vigilant driver noticed something was amiss on the A34 near the Hampshire/Berkshire border. Hands and arms were sticking out from the side of an HGV. Officers acted fast, pulling over the vehicle and breaking the lock to investigate.
Six People Discovered, Including Children
Inside, they found six migrants — four men and two children — who had been trapped in the back of the truck since 3am the previous morning, a near 12-hour ordeal.
A police source said, “Our primary concern was their welfare. We immediately called ambulance crews to provide medical assistance. They needed fluids and food as they had likely gone without since embarking on the journey.”
Immigration Investigation Underway
All six individuals were taken into custody. The men, aged 32 to 54 and believed to be Iranian, were arrested on suspicion of immigration offences, while the children were passed to social services for care.
The Home Office confirmed:
“Immigration Enforcement was contacted by Hampshire Police shortly after 5.45am following the incident on the A34 at Winchester. The cases of all six will be processed according to immigration law. Where individuals have no right to remain in the UK, removal action will be taken.”
Police have launched a full investigation into how the migrants ended up hidden in the truck, which reportedly travelled from Spain. The dramatic rescue highlights ongoing concerns over illegal immigration and dangerous smuggling operations.
