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Cardiff riot: Key updates you may have missed as IPOC investigates

Riots broke out in Ely in Cardiff on Monday evening after two teenage boys died in a crash.

Watch: Household CCTV shows police vehicle following bike ahead of fatal crash

The Cardiff riot following the death of two teenagers in an apparent road accident continues to raise questions over what sparked the violence and police officers' role in the incident.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said on Friday that it was investigating four different factors over the crash that saw friends Harvey Evans, 15, and Kyrees Sullivan, 16, killed in a collision in the Ely area of the city shortly after 6pm.

The watchdog is considering: the nature of the police's interaction with the teens prior to the crash, whether they were in pursuit of the teens, if their interaction with the boys was reported appropriately before and after the crash, and whether police actions were in line with local and national police policy.

Locals insisted the pair were being pursued by police at the time of the crash, which the force has denied.

CARDIFF, WALES - MAY 25: Floral tributes to Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, are seen on Snowden Road, Ely on May 25, 2023 in Cardiff, Wales. The two teenagers died in an electric bike crash in Cardiff. Their deaths sparked a riot in Ely which saw cars set alight. CCTV footage shows a police van following the bike moments before it crashed. (Photo by Matthew Horwood/Getty Images)
Floral tributes to the teens killed in Monday's crash were left on Snowden Road, Ely in Cardiff. The police watchdog has urged local residents to cooperate with the investigation. (Getty Images)
Cardiff road crash & riots. See story POLICE Ely. Infographic PA Graphics. An editable version of this graphic is available if required. Please contact graphics@pamediagroup.com.
How the riots unfolded in Ely, Cardiff, on Monday evening and Tuesday morning. (PA)

CCTV that emerged on Tuesday showed two people on an electric bike or scooter being followed by a police van around 900 metres from the scene of the crash.

Speaking at a vigil for the teenagers on Wednesday night, Kyrees' mother Belinda Sullivan told The Daily Telegraph: “The police killed my son. I’ve got nothing else to say.”

The police watchdog - the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) - has urged residents in Ely, Cardiff to cooperate with an investigation into the deaths of the teens.

Yahoo News UK rounds up some of the key elements as of Thursday afternoon:

'Cat and mouse' escape

The boys appear to have swerved round bollards that the van could not have followed them through, seconds before they were in a fatal crash with a bus and a car.

One friend said: "A lot of boys round here play like a game of cat and mouse with the feds, the police. So they knows which way to go to get away."

Police deny a chase took place, stating that when officers were called to the collision on Snowden Road, Ely, the nearest police van was on nearby Grand Avenue.

Harvey Evans, left, and Kyrees Sullivan, right, pictured in 2016, died in a crash in Ely, Cardiff, on Monday. (Wales News)
Harvey Evans, left, and Kyrees Sullivan, right, pictured in 2016, died in a crash in Ely, Cardiff, on Monday. (Wales News)

However, the boys are thought to have driven down a dead-end were the van could not follow.

One local man said: "The boys were from Ely and knew all of the streets like the back of their hands and they were being chased. For the police to say there was no chase is a joke. Now that video is out there everyone knows they are lying."

Police insist there was no chase

Police have doubled down on their insistence that the two teenage boys were not being chased by officers.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday evening, Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Bacon confirmed the timeline of events that took place that evening and said the police van that was seen on CCTV in the area was half a mile away from where the road collision took place.

Alun Michael, police and crime commissioner for South Wales, told the BBC: “The question has to be asked of whether there is a connection between earlier events and the road traffic accident itself.

“I am assured and I am still assured youths were not being chased by the police at the time of the road traffic accident.

Kyrees Sullivan, right, pictured with his mother, Belinda Sullivan. (Wales News)
Kyrees Sullivan, right, pictured with his mother, Belinda Sullivan. (Wales News)
Harvey Evans was killed in a crash in Ely, Cardiff, on Monday. (Wales News)
Harvey Evans was killed in a crash in Ely, Cardiff, on Monday. (Wales News)

“The road traffic accident is being carefully investigated but there wasn’t a police vehicle in the road where and when the actual accident happened.”

Asked if this leaves open the possibility of a police chase, he replied: “It leaves open the possibility. I was assured there was not… police chasing the individuals at the time the accident happened.

“That there may have been something earlier is of course something that should be fully investigated.”

The two victims

The family of Kyrees Sullivan have described him as a "loving, caring, handsome young man, a loving son to Belinda and Craig, little brother to Aleah and Jordan, and a special uncle KyKy to Myra".

“Him and Harvey along with Niall were best friends since they were young and went everywhere together, they both had so many friends and were very well liked doing many things together, having fun & laughs!!"

The family of Harvey Evans said: “Our hearts are truly broken by the sudden death of Harvey, our much-loved son, grandson, brother, nephew, friend and boyfriend.

CARDIFF, WALES - MAY 23: An automobile burns on Highmead Road during unrest following a serious road crash earlier on Snowden Road on May 23, 2023 in Cardiff, Wales. Riot Police with dogs are trying to contain a large group of people causing serious disorder in Ely, Cardiff tonight. Fires have been started and missiles thrown at police after they attended a serious road traffic collision earlier in the evening. (Photo by Matthew Horwood/Getty Images)
A car burns on Highmead Road in Cardiff during rioting on Monday night and Tuesday morning. (Getty Images)

“He lived life to the full, he had a big heart and deep down he truly cared. He was a best friend to Kyrees and our thoughts and prayers are with his family also.

“We ask for peace within the community and request that people leave the investigation to the police so we can get the answers we so desperately need to lay Harvey to rest.

What happened on the night?

Police officers faced what they called “large-scale disorder”, with at least two cars torched as trouble involving scores of youths flared for hours.

Specially-trained public order officers were deployed as several vehicles were set alight, property was damaged and officers were injured.

Scenes live-streamed on YouTube showed young people throwing fireworks and other missiles at a line of police officers with riot shields who were blocking one end of the street.

Shortly before midnight a car was set on fire, while a second vehicle was overturned and also torched.

Police, including mounted officers on horseback, were seen outside Ely police station in the early hours of Tuesday after suggestions it could be targeted.

The scene in Ely, Cardiff, following the riot that broke out after two teenagers died in a crash. Tensions reached breaking point after officers were called to the collision, in Snowden Road, Ely, at about 6pm on Monday. Officers faced what they called
The scene in Ely, Cardiff, on Tuesday following the riot. (PA)
CARDIFF, WALES - MAY 23: An automobile burns on Highmead Road during unrest following a serious road crash earlier on Snowden Road on May 23, 2023 in Cardiff, Wales. Riot Police with dogs are trying to contain a large group of people causing serious disorder in Ely, Cardiff tonight. Fires have been started and missiles thrown at police after they attended a serious road traffic collision earlier in the evening. (Photo by Matthew Horwood/Getty Images)
A car burns on Highmead Road during the unrest in Ely, Cardiff. (Getty Images)

Shortly before 3am, rioters moved down Highmead Road in Ely, followed by police officers trying to disperse them.

The rioters continued to throw missiles and set cars alight.

Rubbish and wheelie bins were also set alight by rioters as they continued to be moved through the streets by armoured police.

Arrests made

Nine people aged between 15 and 29 have been arrested in connection with the riots that followed the deaths of the teenagers, and have all been bailed pending further inquiries.

“More arrests are expected as we continue to identify those involved,” South Wales Police said

According to the police, four men aged aged 16, 17, 18 and 29 were arrested in the Ely area and a 21-year-old man in Tremorfa, Cardiff, on suspicion of rioting.

The force said: “As part of the investigation so far, over 180 pieces of body-worn footage from police officers at the scene has been recovered and officers are going through hundreds of hours of public CCTV and videos posted on social media.

“We are still appealing for witnesses, information, and footage from mobile phones. CCTV and social media. We are extremely grateful for the support from the community so far and urge anyone with information to contact us.”