Cardiff: Funeral held for Ely boys whose deaths sparked riot

Thousands of people have attended the funeral of two teenagers whose deaths in an e-bike crash sparked a riot.

Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, died on 22 May in Ely, Cardiff, after the bike they were riding was followed by a police van.

Following the service the best friends were buried in the same plot, said their families.

The funeral procession, including four hearses and nine Rolls-Royces, was led by a group of motorcycles.

Harvey's coffin was followed by Kyrees' and then two further hearses, one with flowers spelling "forever" and the other "young".

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A light aircraft was flying overhead with a banner trailing behind with the words "RIP Harvey and Kyrees Young Kings".

Ely's Church of the Resurrection, which holds about 1,200 people, was completely filled by the service, with another estimated 800 mourners outside.

Two hearses arrived for both Kyrees Sullivan and Harvey Evans at about 13:00

The procession left the funeral home on Cowbridge Road West at about noon and made its way around the boys' housing estate.

It stopped at both of their homes before making its way to the Church of the Resurrection on Grand Avenue, Ely, for the service at 13:00 BST.

A number of people became emotional as the two coffins were carried into the church by family members and the song All My Life by American rappers Lil Durk and J. Cole was played.

Mourners became emotional as they watched the coffins carried into the church

The service started with the hymn All Things Bright And Beautiful before members of both families shared memories of the boys.

In a eulogy on behalf of Harvey's parents, his aunt, Mandy, said he was both a "protector" and "class clown".

She said Harvey loved his five siblings and enjoyed playing football, rugby and earning belts in kick-boxing.

"He had so much more to give and learn. Our hearts are shattered," she said.

Mandy said Harvey was "inseparable" from Kyrees, who was described as "lovable".

Harvey's girlfriend, Ellie, added: "Harvey was not only my best friend, but my soulmate. I love you forever."

A wake for the boys was held at the Cardiff City Stadium.

There are about 800 people waiting outside the church, which has had its 1,200 capacity filled

JM, a rapper and friend of Kyrees and Harvey, wrote a song for the occasion.

The 17-year-old told BBC Newsbeat the song was "really tough" for him to write, and that he had to spend hours trying to compose himself while recording it.

"I'm glad their parents liked it... Harvey's mum Nadine called me her superstar, that meant a lot," he said.

The procession was led by a number of motorbikes

On the evening of Kyrees and Harvey's deaths, a riot broke out in Ely which saw 15 officers injured and led to 27 arrests.

The unrest saw cars torched, property damaged and one street was left looking like an "absolute warzone".

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), has since started an investigation into the conduct of the driver and passenger of the police van that was seen following the pair.

A motorcycle was engraved on the boys' coffins

Hundreds of blue ribbons lined the procession route, tied to lampposts, road signs, traffic bollards, gates of houses and on the grills of cars and vans.

The families of both teenagers had asked mourners to wear something blue.

Flowers and messages were also been left for the boys at the site of the crash that took their lives, on Snowdon Road.

Birthday cards, messages and banners have also been left for Harvey, who would have turned 16 on 21 June.

A plane flew over the area towing the message "RIP Kyrees & Harvey. Young kings"

Speaking ahead of the funeral, the Reverend Canon Jan Gould said: "It's important for the family especially, but actually for the whole community to have some closure now and to begin to move on.

"My hope is that moving on from this now, the community can begin to rebuild. And hopefully the families will find some peace from the service."

Road closures have been managed by Cardiff council and schools in the area were also closed due to the number of mourners.

Ty Coch Road, from the roundabout with Archer Road, and Grand Avenue, from its junction with Howell Road, was closed from midday.