FIFTEEN stowaways including a family of five were found hiding inside fruit pallets in the back of a lorry at a London market.

The group from Iraq and Iran, including three children, were found in the back of the truck by police late on Thursday night at New Spitalfields Market, Leyton, east London.

 The group of 15 were found in the back of a fruit lorry at New Spitalfields Market in Leyton

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The group of 15 were found in the back of a fruit lorry at New Spitalfields Market in Leyton
 The group were discovered at New Spitalfields Market in Leyton

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The group were discovered at New Spitalfields Market in LeytonCredit: Getty Images
 Police were called to the east London market on Friday morning

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Police were called to the east London market on Friday morning

Three people have been arrested - including the driver - have been arrested on suspicion of facilitating illegal entry to the UK, police said.

Waltham Forest police said on Twitter the lorry had travelled to the UK from Spain and a family of five had been taken to hospital for treatment.

Officers said they discovered the group after being called to the market this morning.

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It comes after two illegal immigrants were found hiding in the back of a lorry full of flash Ferraris in Essex last week.

A spokesman for New Spitalfields Market constabulary declined to comment on the incident.

A home office spokeswoman said a 41-year-old Spanish man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration.

She said two other men were arrested on suspicion of immigration offences and remain in police custody.

The spokeswoman said: "One child was taken to hospital and remains under observation. The family will be released into temporary accommodation.

"The home office will progress their cases according to the immigration rules."

The investigation has been passed to Immigration Enforcement Criminal and Financial Investigations officers.



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