The police watchdog has announced it will investigate a crash that killed two teenagers and sparked a riot in Cardiff, after CCTV emerged of a police vehicle following a bike minutes before the accident.
Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, were killed in a collision while riding an electric bike in Ely in the city on Monday evening, sparking a night of violence, with cars set alight and clashes with riot police.
People were seen throwing fireworks and other missiles at officers with riot shields who were blocking one end of a street, as a helicopter hovered overhead.
As violence escalated during the early hours of Tuesday, officers on horseback were called in to quell the disturbances. In all, 15 officers were injured.
South Wales police and crime commissioner Alun Michael suggested on Tuesday that rumours of a police chase before the crash had become “rife” but he denied it was the case.
However, CCTV footage emerged hours later appearing to show a police van driving behind an electric bike in Frank Road in Ely, 900m from the scene, at 5.59pm, minutes before the crash.
On Wednesday, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said: “Following a referral from South Wales Police, we have decided to independently investigate an incident in Ely, Cardiff, on Monday which resulted in the deaths of two teenagers.
“Our decision to investigate follows our attendance at the police post-incident procedure and after a review of the information received to date.”
The watchdog will probe “any interaction” between police officers and the two teenagers before they were killed, it said.
After the footage emerged, Mr Michael admitted it was a “possibility” that police had been chasing the boys.
IOPC director David Ford said: “First and foremost, our thoughts and sympathies go out to the families and friends of the two boys who sadly lost their lives on Monday evening in Ely.
“It is important that we independently investigate the circumstances leading up to this tragic event.
“This incident and the events that followed have, understandably, attracted significant interest and public concern. It is important that we thoroughly and independently investigate this matter in order to establish the full facts and circumstances of exactly what happened.”
Police faced what they called “large-scale disorder” after receiving reports of a collision in Snowden Road around 6pm on Monday, with tensions reaching breaking point as fireworks were shot at officers.
The mother of one of the teenagers begged the yobs to stop their violence as her son’s body lay in the street where he died.
A vigil and balloon release are being planned where the crash happened for Friday evening to remember Harvey and Kyrees.
The leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Jane Dodds, has called for an impartial investigation into South Wales Police.
