A British politician blamed Wednesday’s horrific discovery of 39 bodies in the back of a truck on the “vile” business of people smuggling.

The bodies — including at least one teenager — were found in Essex in the early hours packed into the back of the truck that is believed to have come from Bulgaria. The driver was arrested on suspicion of murder.

The member of Parliament, Jackie Doyle-Price, quickly blamed the “sickening news” on human smuggling.

“People trafficking is a vile and dangerous business,” she tweeted. “Lets (sic) hope they bring these murderers to justice.”

Richard Burnett, the chief executive of the Road Haulage Association, also blamed the trade for the “tragedy.”

“Our thoughts are with the families of the deceased but whatever the circumstances, it highlights the danger of migrant gangs people-smuggling on lorries,” he tweeted.

Britain’s Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, tweeted that he was “appalled” by the “tragic incident.”

“My thoughts are with all those who lost their lives & their loved ones,” he wrote.

The death toll would make it the biggest such mass-casualty since 2000, when 58 people died in the back of a truck at the Port of Dover, according to The Times of London.

The victims suffocated when an air vent was shut to avoid being spotted at immigration checks with the driver, Dutchman Perry Wacker, later jailed for 14 years for manslaughter.

Essex police said Wednesday that they have yet to identify the 39 victims or where they came from. Deputy police chief Pippa Mills, who said it “could be a lengthy process,” also refused to reveal the gender of the victims.

The truck is believed to have traveled from Ireland to Holyhead in Wales on Saturday via ferry, finally driving to Grays in Essex where it was found around 1:40 a.m.

Bulgarian authorities said they could not yet confirm police claims that the truck had started its journey from Bulgaria. “We are in contact with our embassy in London and with British authorities,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Tsvetana Krasteva said.

A 25-year-old-man from Northern Ireland has been arrested on suspicion of murder. He remains in custody but has not been charged or identified.

With Post wires

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