On Monday, May 22, riots broke out in the Ely area of Cardiff following a serious crash which killed two teenage boys, named locally as Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and 15-year-old Harvey Evans.
Police were called to Snowden Road at around 6pm on Monday night before hundreds of people gathered in the area. Cars were torched and missiles thrown at police officers as hundreds gathered near the scene of the crash.
South Wales Police said previously that the collision had "already occurred" when officers arrived. But Chief Superintendent Martyn Stone said on Tuesday evening that CCTV footage showing an electric bike being followed by a police van moments before the crash had emerged and would "form part of the investigation". You can get more Cardiff news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
Read more: Tributes to teenagers who died in Ely crash that led to riots in Cardiff
On Tuesday, a huge clean-up operation was underway, while members of the community brought floral tributes to the scene and paid their respects. Here is everything we now know:
CCTV shows police van following bike moments before crash
Police are investigating footage from a CCTV camera in Ely which shows two young people on an electric bike being followed by a police van just moments before the crash that killed two teens. The footage emerged on Tuesday afternoon. South Wales Police previously said the collision had "already occurred" when officers arrived. In addition, speaking on Tuesday morning on BBC Radio Wales, the police and crime commissioner for South Wales, Alun Michael, said there had been no police chase.
He said: "There were also unfounded rumours of a police chase which was not the case and it just shows how, particularly with things going around on social media which may have very little connection with the truth, things can escalate very rapidly."
But, during a press conference outside Cardiff Bay Police Station on Tuesday afternoon South Wales Police Chief Superintendent Martyn Stone said the new footage would "form part of the investigation". He appealed for anyone with any more footage to get in touch. The video is time-stamped to 5.59pm on Monday, in Frank Road, Ely, 900m (2,953ft) away from the site of the suspected crash. Police say they were called to the crash at 6.03pm, four minutes later.
Mr Stone said the video would "help them piece together the circumstances leading up to the collision". He then left the press conference after making his statement without taking any questions as journalists asked why people were not told the bike had been followed by police and why the police and crime commissioner had "said something completely different" earlier in the day.
Police say they do not believe any other vehicles were involved in the crash which killed the two boys and that no police cars were on Snowden Road when it happened. Police said they did have a vehicle in Grand Avenue, which responded to the report of a collision, attended the area and the officers performed CPR. The investigation will involve tracking data from the police vehicle.
South Wales Police refers itself to police watchdog
During the press conference on Tuesday afternoon Mr Stone confirmed the force had referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). An IOPC spokesman said later: "We have been contacted this afternoon by South Wales Police to make a referral regarding the circumstances leading up to the fatal collision in Ely yesterday (Monday). We will be sending investigators to a police post incident procedure to begin gathering information and to assess whether the IOPC will carry out an independent investigation.”
Serious disorder took place and police officers were injured
In the aftermath of the two boys' deaths, cars were set alight, fires burned in the middle of the streets, fireworks were set off and residents say they felt unsafe in their own homes. Crime commissioner Alun Michael said that around a dozen police officers had been injured in the violence although none seriously. He said: "We saw a dozen police officers injured last night, fortunately none of them life-threatening although that is a matter of luck not intention. There were a lot of calls from members of public in the area very worried about the activities that were taking place and the events to which the police responded to quickly."
It was later revealed that 15 officers were injured requiring medical attention. Eleven went to hospital, four were treated at the scene.
Full statement from South Wales Police
Mr Stone, Divisional Commander for Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, addressed a press conference just after 5pn on Tuesday afternoon. He said: "South Wales Police is continuing to investigate a fatal road traffic collision and serious disorder which happened in the Ely area of Cardiff last night.
"At 6.03pm yesterday we received a report of a serious collision on Snowden Road which tragically resulted in the deaths of two teenage boys. The families of the two boys are being supported by family liaison officers. Our thoughts are with both families at this terrible time. An electric bike has been seized from the scene and enquiries are on-going to establish the exact circumstances.
"We have received CCTV footage which shows a police vehicle following a bike just prior to 6pm. This footage is being recovered as part of the investigation which will assist us in piecing together the circumstances leading up to the collision. The families are being kept up to date.
"We can confirm that following investigations carried out so far, when the collision occurred, there were no police vehicles on Snowden Road. A police vehicle in Grand Avenue responded to the report of a collision, attended the area and the officers performed CPR.
"The investigation has involved studying CCTV and tracking data from the police vehicle. At this stage, we do not believe that any other vehicle was involved. During the disorder, 15 officers were injured requiring medical attention. Eleven went to hospital, four were treated at the scene.
"Our focus now is to fully investigate the circumstances of the collision and the appalling scenes that followed. We are appealing for witnesses, information, and footage from mobile phones and social media. We acknowledge the impact last night’s disorder had on local residents who were understandably very frightened. They have our assurances that we will be doing all we can to arrest those responsible. A number of people have already been arrested and more arrests will follow.
"We are extremely grateful for the support from the community and urge anyone with information to contact South Wales Police. South Wales Police has made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct to ensure the matter receives independent scrutiny."
Tributes to the two teenagers killed
Tributes have been paid to the two teenagers who were killed in the crash, Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and 15-year-old Harvey Evans. People left floral tributes at the scene throughout Tuesday where the two teenage boys died in a collision yesterday evening. One said "RIP to two young kings" while another said: "RIP boys. Gone but never forgotten."
Bridy Bool, who lives nearby, said she knew the family of Harvey Evans. Paying tribute to the teenager, she said: "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."
'It’s not fair on the families'
A 50-year-old man who has lived in Ely all his life told WalesOnline tonight he knew both families involved. He said he wanted to see an independent investigation into South Wales Police.
He said: “Tensions had been simmering even before this, and now there’s a police statement that doesn’t match the footage. It feels like we can’t trust them at all. It’s not fair on the families either. Aren’t they going through enough? There definitely needs to be an independent investigation. I know both of the families who lost children. Last night they were asking police what was happening with their child and the police would not tell them anything. That’s why there was a flare-up to begin with and it set tensions rolling.
“I would not be surprised if there is trouble tonight. I will say it’s good that the police have mostly stayed away from the area today. That’s why it has not gone off big-time. I don’t agree with people targeting cars and other people’s property. OK, you’ve got a grievance with police, but that’s just wrong.”
Church leader said 'community doesn't deserve this'
A church leader in Ely said she feared the unrest on Monday night would tarnish the suburb's reputation, which it had tried so hard to repair ever since the bread riots of 1991.
Canon Jan Gould, the vicar at The Church of Resurrection on Grand Avenue, spoke to WalesOnline after the violence in Ely.
The 59-year-old said: "[Ely] is not a bad community at all. The people here are wonderful people. Back in 1991 there were riots here and that gave Ely a really bad name - they lived with that reputation for years and years. My big fear and my big sadness is that what happened last night is going to take us back to that image of Ely. And all the good stuff that goes on here is going to be completely ignored or looked over."
She said her initial reaction to the unrest was "absolute shock". "It was awful to see the video images - cars burning and that seething anger - just awful. I really feel for the community because they don't deserve this."
First Minister 'very concerned' about scenes
First Minister Mark Drakeford Tweeted: "Very concerned to see the upsetting reports from Ely overnight and my thoughts are with all those affected. We continue to monitor the situation to gain a fuller understanding of the circumstances."
He wrote in a separate Tweet: "My thoughts are with the families of the two young people who died last night. I’ve been in touch with the local councillor, the MP, the leader of Cardiff Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner this morning as well as receiving updates in my capacity as FM."
Downing Street condemned scenes as 'appalling and completely unacceptable'
Downing Street said the scenes in Cardiff were "appalling and completely unacceptable". The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "The reports of disorder, violence, arson and specifically attacks on police officers are appalling and unacceptable. We remain grateful to the emergency services and first responders for all their support to the community and restoring order."
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