Terrified residents have been sharing their stories of how frightening it was to watch the Ely riots unfold. The close-knit community of Ely is in mourning after the death of two teenagers in a crash on Monday night, while also coming to terms with the rioting that took place in the aftermath of the collision.
Police were called to reports of a crash on Snowden Road at around 6pm on Monday night (May 22). Police said the collision occurred before they arrived on the scene and confirmed on Tuesday morning that two teenage boys had died.
Tensions grew as hundreds of people gathered near the scene of the crash and police, some in riot gear, spent the next nine hours dealing with what they described as "large-scale disorder". Missiles were thrown at officers, cars were set on fire and fireworks were let off as officers tried to bring the situation under control. You can follow our updates as the clean up continues here.
A disabled woman said she was 'trapped' after rioters torched her car. Jane Palmer, whose Ford Focus was set alight on Highmead Road, said she and her family watched from their window as rioters torched her car. The family attempted to stop the fire using water from their garden hose - but were unable to prevent it from taking hold and destroying their vehicle.
Ms Palmer told PA news agency: “I’m disabled, so now I’m trapped without my car". Another resident described how she had to go through the back streets to try and get to her "hysterical children" after visiting her daughter in hospital. She had to climb through back streets to get to her house because her children were trapped at home by the rioting.
In a dramatic account of what happened, she said: "They were like animals around here. My daughter was in hospital and my other children were at home and they were all hysterical so I had to come home and police wouldn’t let me through.
"I got stopped outside Wilson Road and asked the police to bring me home but obviously it was happening outside the house so they wouldn’t let me through. They said if I had run through I would have got arrested so I had to go through the back streets to get to my garden so I just had to jump over fences.
"My kids were absolutely hysterical. I was saying ‘just walk me to that end I’ll do my own safety’ but no. It was literally outside the house so I was taking a chance but if your kids are inside screaming you are going to take that chance. I had to get home.
"They were sending me the videos and that I could see when I was in the hospital. The silver car that got flipped over was my son in law's because you couldn’t drive down here or move your cars.
"I’ve lived here for around 26 years. There was the other Ely riots but this is another level. I just don’t see what had been gained from this and it is taking away from the fact that two children have lost their lives.
"It’s taken away from the aspect of that just by focusing on an Ely riot again. Families have got to grieve. Don’t come up here causing trouble." Local resident Ahmad Abdulkah (pictured below) claimed that people came from as far away as Bristol to join the riot and was worried there were not enough police at the scene, claiming back up did not seem to arrive for several hours.
He said: "Things had got worse and were escalating by around 9.30pm. I heard screaming and shouting and massive noise. I came out to see what was going on. I saw groups of youngsters who were chasing police, and police were chasing them too.
"People got angry and people came from all over. There were some there from Bristol, from the Valleys. It was a terrible situation. The worst I have ever seen.
"They were so angry and throwing everything. We didn't have enough police officers. We should have had more. Around 15 to 20 police officers were not enough. It was not until 11.30pm that back-up seemed to arrive.
"They were throwing bricks, everything. It was very scary. It was shocking for my children and my family and the neighbours. We have never seen a situation like this before. It was terrible and terrifying. I have been living here for five years and it is a very welcoming community and very nice place to live but this was scary."
Floral tributes have been left at the scene for the two boys who died in the collision. South Wales Police has said a full investigation will be carried out.
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Travis said: “First and foremost our thoughts are with families of the two boys who have died following the collision in Ely and with those affected by the disorder which followed.
“These are scenes we do not expect to see in our communities, particularly a close-knit community such as Ely. We received a large number of calls from residents who were understandably frightened by the actions of this large group who were intent on causing crime and disorder.
“The level of violence towards emergency services and the damage to property and vehicles was totally unacceptable. Our focus now is to fully investigate the circumstances of the collision and the appalling scenes that followed.
“Arrests have already been made in connection with the disorder and more will follow. We shall be maintaining an enhanced police presence throughout the week and into the weekend.
"We would like to thank the public for their support and appeal to anyone with information or video footage to come forward and provide that to us.”
Read more:
Everything we know as rioters torch cars and throw missiles at police following serious crash
Pictures show extent of the disorder as missiles thrown, fireworks set off and cars torched
Prime Minister condemns 'appalling and unacceptable' riot in Cardiff
