Summary

  • Cardiff police have set out a timeline of events leading up to the deaths of two teenagers in a crash on Monday which led to riots in the Ely area

  • Best friends Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, died in the crash on Snowden Road - police say no other vehicle was involved

  • CCTV has captured a police van following the pair, but it would appear bollards at the end of one street meant the police couldn't follow further

  • Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Bacon said the police vehicle was half a mile away when the crash took place

  • The police have previously insisted that the two teenagers were not being chased by police when they were killed

  • Police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), is to independently investigate the incident

  1. Police statement due shortlypublished at 17:06 British Summer Time 23 May 2023

    Police are due within the next few moments to give a statement to the media following the riots in Cardiff last night.

    We'll bring you updates from the statement when we have them.

  2. What has happened so far?published at 16:47 British Summer Time 23 May 2023

    We've been following this story all day and have been keeping you updated with new information as we get it.

    Here's what we know so far:

    • Two teenagers died in a crash in Ely, Cardiff, last night
    • They have been named locally as Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15
    • A riot broke out as a result of the deaths and continued until early morning
    • During the riot, cars were set alight and fireworks were thrown at police
    • Videos have been circulating on social media of the riot
    • South Wales Police have not confirmed how many arrests have been made but several have taken place
    • The BBC Verify team has confirmed a CCTV video appearing to show a police van following two people on either a moped or electric bike
  3. BBC Verify

    CCTV appears to show police following moped moments before crashpublished at 16:32 British Summer Time 23 May 2023
    Breaking

    BBC Verify has verified CCTV video appearing to show a police van following two people on either a moped or electric bike, apparently minutes before a crash in which two teenagers died.

    The CCTV has been geolocated to Frank Road in Ely, Cardiff.

    It has a time stamp showing 17:59 BST, 22 May 2023.

    The location is 900m away from the site of the suspected crash.

    This video, obtained by the news agency Wales News, comes after the South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, Alun Michael, told the BBC that a chase did not take place.

  4. What do we know about Ely?published at 16:09 British Summer Time 23 May 2023

    Ely in Cardiff

    Ely is reeling after a riot broke out following a crash in which two teenage boys died.

    The estate in Cardiff, which features mostly 1920s and 30s semi-detached houses, has a population of more than 14,600 people.

    It's had a fair share of bad headlines over the years, but it also has a proud reputation as a close-knit working-class community.

  5. Community wraps lamp-post with tributespublished at 15:45 British Summer Time 23 May 2023

    People climb a ladder to put flowers around a lamp-post to pay tribute to the two teens killed in a crash that sparked a riot.Image source, Getty Images

    Balloons and flowers are being left for the two boys, named locally as Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, who died in a crash before the riots broke out in Ely.

    A lamp-post has been covered in tributes, with some using a ladder to add to the display.

  6. Watch: Cars burn on city streets after riotspublished at 15:27 British Summer Time 23 May 2023

    Cars went up in flames and the road was littered with debris as riots took place in Ely on Monday night.

    Read More
  7. 'No kids have gone to school today'published at 15:13 British Summer Time 23 May 2023

    Stacey, 44, who lives locally says she watched the chaos after trying to find her son who was visiting a friend on Snowden Road.

    She says: "I was anxious, I was really, really scared.

    "It started with some of them starting a little fire in the street and it just went from there.

    "My boy hasn't gone to school today, and he's got exams coming up. No one's kids have gone to school today, they've been up until 3am with all of this.

    "I remember the Ely riots in 1991 when I was 12, and it brought back memories, absolutely."

    Ely riotsImage source, UGC
  8. Police still at the scenepublished at 15:02 British Summer Time 23 May 2023

    Pictures from the past hour show that police are still on the ground in Ely after last night's disruption.

    About a dozen officers were seen carrying bags along Stanway Road at about 14:20 BST.

    Police officers at the scene
    Police were seen carrying evidence bags on Tuesday afternoon
    Police on the scene in Ely
  9. BBC Verify

    How the riot played out on social mediapublished at 14:47 British Summer Time 23 May 2023

    BBC Verify has confirmed the location of a number of posts on social media from last night’s riot in Cardiff.

    One of the first videos to emerge shows two police officers rushing towards two people lying on the pavement in Snowden Road.

    Shortly afterwards, a Facebook live stream shows a crowd and a row of officers at a nearby junction.

    Images and videos later from the night show damaged and burnt out vehicles.

    Map showing location of riot activity in CardiffImage source, .
  10. Harvey 'loved motorbikes and football'published at 14:37 British Summer Time 23 May 2023

    Bridy Bool, who says she knows the family of Harvey Evans, says the 15-year-old had eaten his tea and left his mum's house just before the crash.

    She said: "He had been at home all day with his mum, and he went with his friend, and this happened."

    She added: "Harvey was such a young boy, a sociable boy, he had loads of friends and he loved motorbikes and football.

    "He was best friends with Kyrees and were into the same things. It was not unusual for them to be together."

  11. More arrests expected, minister sayspublished at 14:25 British Summer Time 23 May 2023

    More arrests connected to the riots in Ely are expected, a Welsh government minister has said.

    Speaking in the Senedd, minister for social justice Jane Hutt repeated calls for calm and said she was "shocked and saddened" to hear of the teenage boys' deaths.

    She also called for people to "support the police and other agencies involved in supporting the local community".

    Hutt thanked the community and the emergency services involved for "the exemplary way they pulled together to handle the situation".

    Quote Message

    I do understand that South Wales Police have made arrests in connection with the disorder, and that more will follow. But clearly this is something where our thoughts are also with the community, such a warm and strong community."

  12. Residents claim crash followed police chase - PApublished at 14:13 British Summer Time 23 May 2023

    The two teenage boys killed in a crash that sparked a riot in Cardiff on Monday evening were being chased by police, some residents have claimed to the PA news agency.

    Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and 15-year-old Harvey Evans were killed in the Ely area of Cardiff while riding an electric bike.

    South Wales Police have strongly denied the boys were being pursued by officers.

    The force said the collision had already occurred when police arrived - and said officers remained on the scene to manage "large-scale disorder" until the early hours of this morning.

  13. Teens killed in crash that sparked riots namedpublished at 13:57 British Summer Time 23 May 2023
    Breaking

    The two teenage boys who died in a crash which sparked a riot in the Ely area of Cardiff have been named locally as 16-year-old Kyrees Sullivan and 15-year-old Harvey Evans, the BBC has been told.

  14. Business owner offers to help with clean uppublished at 13:30 British Summer Time 23 May 2023

    Daniel Pato, who runs a small gardening business, has offered a few hours to help with the clean up after the riot.

    The owner of Greensleaves ground maintenance says: "If anybody needs help or is struggling to clear the mess created by last night's antics, I would be happy to help, free of charge.

    "I have blowers, rubble sacks, shovels etc."

  15. What happened where?published at 13:18 British Summer Time 23 May 2023

    Two teenage boys died in a crash yesterday evening at 18:00 BST on Snowden Road in Ely, Cardiff.

    Police arrived at the road later and a riot broke out on the street at about 20:00.

    As the disorder continued into the early hours of the morning, those gathered moved down nearby Highmead Road as police attempted to disperse them.

    A map showing the location of the crash and riot in Ely
  16. Flowers left for teens killed in crashpublished at 13:04 British Summer Time 23 May 2023

    Floral tributes in ElyImage source, PA Media

    Flowers have been left as tribute for the two boys who died in a crash in Ely last night.

    One tribute reads: "Friends are like stars, you don't have to see them to know they are there."

  17. Police watchdog says it is not investigatingpublished at 12:56 British Summer Time 23 May 2023

    The police watchdog says it has not been asked to investigate the fatal crash or the riot in Ely.

    "We have not received a referral from South Wales Police with regards to the incident in Ely last night and there is no indication yet that we will receive one," the Independent Office for Police Conduct says.

    Police dismissed social media rumours that they were involved in the crash which, if true, would have meant the force would have to refer itself to the watchdog.

  18. Police helicopters called in during riotspublished at 12:47 British Summer Time 23 May 2023

    The view from a helicopter of ElyImage source, NPASSouthWest

    These images from the National Police Air Service (NPAS) show the view of Ely last night from a helicopter.

    "Tonight we helped South Wales Police and other assisting forces with a serious incident and public disorder occurrence in Cardiff," says NPAS on Twitter, external.

    "Our thoughts are very much with everyone affected by this."

  19. 'When people have enough, this is what happens'published at 12:30 British Summer Time 23 May 2023

    A resident who lives on Highmead Road in Ely says that people are "pretty anti-police" in the area and called it "a mad night".

    Connor says he watched as rubbish and wheelie bins were set alight by rioters as they moved through the streets around his home.

    "Although we've been afflicted by this riot, I still understand it. When people have enough, this is what happens," he says.

  20. Rioting was appalling and unacceptable, says Downing Streetpublished at 12:20 British Summer Time 23 May 2023

    Downing Street has released a statement on last night's events.

    The Prime Minister's official spokesman described the "reports of disorder, violence, arson and specifically attacks on police officers" as "appalling and completely unacceptable".

    "We remain grateful to the emergency services and first responders for all their support to the community and restoring order."