Cardiff estate turned into a ‘warzone’ after two teens died in e-scooter tragedy: Workers clear streets as police hit back at social media rumours that ‘chase’ was to blame
- Hundreds of rioters clashed with police in Snowden Road, Ely, on Monday night
- Chaotic scenes as thugs attacked riot officers and set vehicles on fire in Cardiff
A Cardiff ‘warzone’ is being cleared up today after up to 150 thugs – many in balaclavas – torched and smashed cars and hurled paving slabs and fireworks at police, injuring 12 officers.
The violence broke out overnight after two teenagers on an e-scooter died in a crash amid false social media rumours of a police chase.
Rioting began after the fatal crash on Snowden Road in the deprived suburb of Ely at around 6pm last night with riot officers sent in to quell the disturbance and make arrests.
Dog teams were also on the scene after numerous 999 calls from terrified locals, some of whom had their vehicles overturned and torched.
One woman said that the area looked like a ‘warzone’ today, as teams of council workers tried to clear the road of debris.
An overturned, burned out car today, after overnight riots in the Ely area of Cardiff
Locals survey the scene on Snowden Road in the deprived suburb of Ely
Cardiff council workers try to sweep up the mess left by yobs
One worker clears bricks and paving slabs that were hurled at police
Alun Michael, Labour’s Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales, said that two young people died after a road crash – and then false rumours spread of police involvement.
South Wales Police said that the crash ‘had already occurred when officers arrived’. One senior officer at the scene said a member of the public was attacked because rioters thought they were an undercover police officer.
Mr Michael said: ‘There was a road traffic accident involving two teenagers on an off-road bike or scooter and sadly they died. That’s an incident obviously that is being investigated in its own right.
‘That appears to have sparked the disorder in which something like a dozen officers were injured, fortunately none of them life threatening, and the connection between the two is far from clear.
‘It would appear that there were rumours, and those rumours became rife, of a police chase, which wasn’t the case. And I think it illustrates the speed with which rumours can run around with the activity that goes on on social media nowadays, and that events can get out of hand.’
Police are yet to comment on what happened before the crash – but there are unverified claims that officers may have tried to stop the teenagers because they were riding a private e-scooter, which are illegal on the road or in public spaces.
Riot police with dogs have been deployed at the scene of a serious road crash
Rubbish has also reportedly been set on fire at the scene on Snowden Road in Ely
The Ford Focus car of Jane Palmer set alight on Highmead Road, Ely, Cardiff, during a ‘large scale disorder’ following a serious road traffic collision on Snowden Road in Ely
A police car with a smashed windsrceen
An automobile burns during unrest
A car burns on Highmead Road during riots following a serious road crash in the early hours of Tuesday morning in Cardiff
Riot police in Ely, Cardiff joined emergency services at the scene of a crash after objects were thrown at officers
The rioting took place in Snowden Road hours after a serious crash in the area on Monday night
Footage from the scene showed the thugs launching fireworks, rocks, paving slabs and even a door at the police before charging at them, with officers from the force charging back at them until at least 3am this morning.
A dozen officers were injured – none seriously – as the vandals attacked them. The mob also smashed car windows before turning the vehicles on their sides and setting them on fire. Tyres exploded when rubbish and mattresses were thrown on them to fuel the flames.
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Travis said: ‘First and foremost our thoughts are with the 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.’
The flames from the fires reached up to 15ft high in the air, and as police blocked off the road in the area, a helicopter could be seen and heard flying overhead.
The violence took place after a ‘serious’ crash in Snowden Road at around 6pm, according to South Wales Police. It is not clear what has sparked the violence, but the force made arrests in the early hours of today.
One resident of Highmead Road, who did not want to be named, said: ‘Enough is enough now. This has gone beyond.
‘When people are making fun of what’s happening on social media it’s crossed a line.
‘This is our neighbourhood and those doing this are just kids. It needs to stop.’
Footage being livestreamed on YouTube showed gangs of youths attacking riot officers with bricks, paving stones, rocks, fireworks, doors and even a toilet in shocking scenes of violence.
Amid the chaos, a member of the public was attacked due to rioters thinking they were an undercover officer, according to one of the senior officers at the scene.
Aftermath of riots that broke out at Cardiff Estate after a ‘serious road traffic collision.’
The road is filled with debris this morning
South Wales’ Police and Crime Commissioner said the riot was sparked by false rumours of a police chase
The incident got completely out of control
Cardiff Council’s leader has called for calm after Monday night’s riot and said it is ‘really important’ a full investigation into the deadly crash that preceded it can take place immediately.
Councillor Huw Thomas said: ‘My thoughts and deepest sympathies this morning are with the families of the young people who died in the road collision yesterday. This is a tragic event and they, and we, need to understand what happened and why.
‘The best way we can achieve this is by letting the investigation begin as soon as possible. Any further trouble will only delay that investigation.
‘I know the majority of people in Ely are deeply worried and concerned about the scenes last night.’
He continued: ‘It’s really important that a full investigation into what happened, and into how the road collision occurred, can take place immediately.
‘For that to happen we need calm. Any continuation of last night’s trouble will only hamper any investigation.
‘It’s important we all come together, and work together now, to find out exactly what happened. I urge everyone to do all they can to calm the situation.’
Residents dialled 999 in terror as cars were set alight
The community of Ely is in shock following the deaths of teenagers
A riot officer stands next to a smashed police car
At one point some of rioters charged at police who were stood in a line at one end of the road while throwing fireworks at the officers.
The thugs also targeted cars parked on the street, smashing windows with rocks and stamping the windscreens.
The vandals then overturned some of the cars and set them on fire, with at least three vehicles left in flames on the residential road.
There were cheers from some in the crowd with some rioters heard saying ‘light it up’ when the infernos took hold. Others were seen throwing bags of rubbish and mattresses on to the flames.
Men were seen ripping off their shirts and covering their faces with them, as fires raged in the street.
Tyres and other parts of the cars exploded as they burned, with one such fireball spitting out flaming debris, which landed on a car parked in a driveway, forced the owner to pour water on it to stop the inferno spreading.
A police helicopter, riot police with shields and full protective gear, and dogs were all at the scene.
Police used a loudspeaker from the helicopter to tell those at the scene to disperse and go home.
Police, including mounted officers on horseback, were seen outside Ely police station in the early hours of Tuesday after suggestions it could be targeted.
Shortly before 3am, rioters moved down Highmead Road in Ely, following by police who were trying to disperse them. But the rioters continued to throw missiles and set cars alight.
The remains of a burned out car is seen in the middle of Snowden Road in Cardiff after riots erupted
Several cars were smashed up and set on fire, with at least one exploding
Riot police with shields and full protective gear were seen in the street
Multiple police vans have been pictured at the scene with scores of riot officers
A topless, masked man is pictured standing in front of riot police in Cardiff last night
Rioters were seen hurling missiles, including bricks, at riot police
A person stands in front of the flames burning in an overturned car in Snowden Road, Ely
Police cordon off access to the scene of a serious road crash on Snowden Road on Tuesday morning as they face off protesters
Police officers in riot gear stand on Howell Road, near the scene of the crash, in Ely on Monday night
A red car was seen being engulfed by flames during a live stream
Police officers on Wilson Road in Cardiff as they face a ‘large scale disorder’ at the scene
Dozens of riot police have been filmed at the scene where fires are being lit
A thug was seen kicking in the windscreen of a car as riot police watched on
The violence began on Monday evening after a ‘serious’ crash on Snowden Road shortly after 6pm.
In a statement South Wales Police said: ‘Shortly after 6pm, we received a report of a serious road traffic collision on Snowden Road.
‘Police responded to this collision, which had already occurred when officers arrived. We need to ensure that this evenings collision is effectively investigated.
‘Officers remain on scene to manage a large scale disorder. Again, we urge anyone involved or watching to leave immediately. We understand the concern from local residents and we ask you to stay indoors.’
In an update at 1.10am, the force said: ‘Police are continuing to monitor and respond to disorder in Ely. A number of vehicles have been set alight. Arrests are being made. A large police presence remains in the area.’
Earlier on Monday evening police had said they were attempting to ‘de-escalate ongoing disorder’ and at 8.20pm confirmed emergency services were at the scene of the crash.
Officers blocked off the street between Wilson Road and Jackson Road and urged people to avoid the area, although hundreds of people, including parents with young children and pet dogs, were spotted at the scene.
Police were called to the scene of a serious road collision earlier this evening
Crowds were seen gathering as the scenes of destruction unfolded
Pictures from earlier this evening show a police car with a smashed in windscreen
South Wales Police tweeted shortly after: ‘There is now a large number of officers working to manage the collision, but also to de-escalate ongoing disorder at the scene.
‘We urge anyone involved to leave the scene immediately and ask local residents to stay away while the matter is brought to a safe conclusion.’
An hour later, police said emergency services remained at the scene and reiterated the importance of people staying away from the area.
The force added: ‘Please avoid speculation – we will bring you the latest details as soon as we can – all of our updates must be factual.’
Pictures from earlier this evening show a police car with a smashed in windscreen.
Police have not given any details on what took place at the ‘serious’ crash earlier.
South Wales Police earlier said following the crash that a number of officers were working to ‘manage the collision, but also to de-escalate ongoing disorder.’
‘We urge anyone involved to leave the scene immediately and ask local residents to stay away while the matter is brought to a safe conclusion.’
Worried families fear violence at a Cardiff estate is a ‘copycat riot’ of four nights of violence which flared on the same streets more than 30 years ago.
Neighbours believe trouble-makers want to recreate the so-called ‘bread riots’ which broke out on the streets of the Ely housing estate in the Welsh capital – and are brought out by the warm weather.
The western suburb – original home estate of popstar Shakin’ Stevens and BBC presenter Jason Mohammad – erupted into days of chaos as hundreds of rioters took to the streets in 1991.
Petrol bombs and stones were launched at police in a row over neighbouring shopkeepers in Wilson Road over the right to sell bread, with locals accusing one of wanting to ramp up prices.
Veteran resident Jacqui Davies, 59, said: ‘This brings it all back. It was terrible but a lot of the yobs here think it was great – we call them the Ely riots and it is still talked about around here.
‘It was just an excuse to get out and cause trouble. It wasn’t so much to do with the price of bread as an excuse to have a go at the police. But we still remember the trouble and the fear it caused.
‘This time two young boys have died. There should be more respect for their families and not cause this trouble in their names.’
At the height of the troubles, a crowd of 500 people confronted 175 police officers in riot gear in Wilson Road. That is just a few hundred yards from the Snowden Road scene of Monday night’s violence.
Three later crown court trials resulted in 20 people being jailed for offences connected to the disturbances, with some offenders sentenced to as long as 30 months behind bars.
In total, an estimated 175 officers were mobilised at the height of the disturbances. Cardiff police were equipped with full riot gear during the unrest, the first time in the force’s history that the equipment had been used, and the force’s helicopter was deployed.
Another local mother said: ‘This brings it back. We don’t want it here. I know these kids are angry but this is making our lives worse not better.’
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