Riots broke out in the city of Cardiff after protesters claimed that police chasing two teenagers led to a fatal accident.
Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, were killed in an accident on the night of May 22 while sharing electric bikes in Ely, west of the Welsh capital Cardiff. Friends of the two boys believe Sullivan and Evans were chased by police, leading to the incident.
Riots broke out in the streets later when protesters accused the South Wales Police of being involved in the accident. Videos on social media showed them throwing objects and setting off fireworks at police on a route. Violent protesters also set fire to two cars.
Riots erupt in the UK after a traffic accident suspected to involve the police
Protesters clash with police in Cardiff, Wales, on May 22. Video: WIC News
South Wales Police initially said it was a “serious accident” and that two teenagers were involved before officers arrived on the scene. Authorities also deployed riot forces to deal with the violence and “deal with the disorderly crowd until the early morning of 23 May”. Some of the protesters were arrested by the police.
John Urquhart, from Ely, said tensions had risen because police had not clearly explained what happened. “The police made no attempt to communicate with the crowd. They showed nothing but contempt and acted as if we didn’t deserve to know what was happening on our doorstep,” he said.
Bridy Bool, Evans’ mother, said her sons and Sullivan are best friends, love football and riding bikes, often doing things together.
A vehicle was burned during riots in the Ely area of Cardiff, Wales, on May 22. Photo: AP
Late on 23 May, South Wales Police said they had obtained video from a roadside surveillance camera showing the image of a police car following an electric bicycle around 4 minutes before the time of the accident, around 4 minutes from now. 800m.
“This video has been collected to serve the investigation, to help us gain a better view of the circumstances leading up to the accident. The victims’ families will be updated with this information,” South Wales Police said.
The agency also asked the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which handles suspected police-related deaths, to participate in the investigation to ensure the transparency of the process.
Nhu Tam (According to BBC, CNN)
