Man shot dead in UK van carrying migrants in France

A 47-year-old man was found shot dead in a UK-plated van carrying irregular migrants at a motorway rest stop in northern France, officials said.

The vehicle was found on October 2 at the Champ l'Epée rest stop, about 30 kilometres north of Troyes, the local prosecutor's office said. Troyes prosecutor Isabelle Verissimo said the man's body was discovered at about 5:00 am with a gunshot wound to the head.

Police found around 10 foreign nationals inside the vehicle who were irregularly on French territory, Verissimo said. Their nationalities and the nationality of the dead man were not given.

A suspect believed to have been present at the scene was arrested early Friday, according to the prosecutor.

An initial investigation suggested shots were fired as the van stopped to park at the rest stop and several people then fled, the prosecutor's office said.

The law enforcement office in Reims was put in charge of the investigation. The Troyes prosecutor's office said a criminal case would be opened on Saturday for murder, attempted murder, unauthorised possession of a weapon, aiding irregular entry, movement and residence in France as part of an organised group, and human trafficking as part of an organised group.