Cardiff riot: Ely crash death boys were followed by police

Police person confirmed for the archetypal clip that officers were pursuing 2 boys whose deaths conscionable minutes aboriginal sparked a riot successful Cardiff.

Police and Crime Commissioner Alun Michael initially said police did not pursuit the boys but CCTV aboriginal showed they were followed by a constabulary van.

Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Bacon would not reply questions astir it astatine a property league connected Wednesday.

She said the South Wales Police officers' van was connected Grand Avenue erstwhile the fatal clang happened connected Snowden Road, astir fractional a mile away.

She told a property conference: "I privation to beryllium arsenic transparent and unfastened arsenic I tin with the communities of Ely truthful they recognize what has happened.

"I've acceptable retired the timeline based connected the factual accusation that we have.

"But the IOPC are conducting an autarkic probe connected whether immoderate pursuit has taken spot truthful I can't afloat reply your question today."

Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford said helium felt "profound sorrow" for the 2 teens, arsenic good arsenic the wider "utterly decent hardworking" radical of Ely.

He besides said the constabulary had questions to reply and determination was "repair enactment to beryllium done" connected their narration with the community.

Ms Bacon laid retired a timeline of events and said the crash, which killed the 2 champion friends, took spot fractional a mile distant from the constabulary vehicle.

Harvey and Kyrees' deaths sparked a riot which saw cars acceptable alight, fireworks thrown astatine constabulary and 15 officers injured.

Some residents claimed that the boys were being chased by constabulary erstwhile they were killed successful the crash.

Mr Michael initially said officers had not been chasing the teenagers erstwhile they died, but astatine Wednesday's property conference, Ms Bacon said officers were pursuing the boys and she was alert of concerns astir the timeline of events, including CCTV footage.

She outlined the timeline from erstwhile the boys' motorcycle archetypal travelled towards the constabulary conveyance connected Frank Road astatine 17:59, to the clang which happened astir 2 minutes later.

"I've been truly wide that I've fixed you factual and close information," she added erstwhile quizzed implicit whether BBC footage contradicted her timeline of events.

"The concern yesterday greeting was inactive precise unclear. I've explained to you the immense magnitude of enactment that has had to beryllium undertaken to get to the constituent wherever we are.

"I would person wanted to talk to our communities sooner and I haven't been capable to due to the fact that we haven't had that level of information."

AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE: BBC newsman Nelli Bird

There was a tense ambiance successful the hastily assembled property league successful the canteen astatine South Wales Police Headquarters successful Bridgend.

At times, Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Bacon looked consecutive astatine the cameras erstwhile answering questions, speaking straight to the assemblage of Ely.

In the end, journalists were lone allowed to inquire a fistful of questions with immoderate batted distant owed to the upcoming Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation.

The purpose of the property league was to effort to springiness much accusation and reassure radical successful Ely that the probe was being handled well.

But determination are intelligibly galore questions remaining for the assemblage - and for the families.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the incidental - the crushed which Ms Bacon said was wherefore she could not comment.

Up to 150 radical gathered successful Ely aft the boys' deaths and rioters threw fireworks astatine constabulary and acceptable cars alight.

Tributes person since been stamped to lampposts and laid retired crossed the street.

In a connection connected Wednesday, Harvey's mum said: "He lived beingness to the full, helium had a large bosom and heavy down helium genuinely cared."

Kyrees's household described him arsenic "a loving, caring, handsome young man".