Cardiff Riots: Tributes to best friends, 15 and 16, killed in e-bike crash sparking violence that injured a dozen cops
TRIBUTES have been paid to two best friends who were killed in an e-bike crash sparking violence which injured a dozen cops.
Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, were killed in Ely, Cardiff, while riding an electric bike, it can now be revealed.
The two teens were on the bike without helmets when tragedy struck around 6pm on Monday, say close friends.
The fatal smash sparked unrest on the residential street as rumours suggested the pair were chased by officers before the collision.
Moments later, thugs started torching cars and pelting police with rocks and flaming missiles - leaving a dozen officers injured amid 15ft high flames.
Friends of the two boys have since said they were riding a Sur-Ron electric bike.
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Bridy Bool, who lives nearby, said she knew the family of Harvey.
She claims his mum wanted to know which hospital her son had been taken to.
She said: "The police are not telling her where her boy is - she has been waiting all night and morning.
"They are not telling them - they are waiting for the family liaison officer.
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"It was 2.40am when her boy's body got moved from there. I've just left her house now.
"There's no support. They are on the phone but there is no support on the ground - all this is going on and they are nowhere."
Bridy claimed the fatal crash occurred because "they were being chased by the police".
However, the crime commissioner has denied this was the case.
Bridy said: "I know they were being chased by the police as there are videos going around that the police were chasing them.
"They didn't have helmets on and there was no reason for them to be chased.
"Harvey had just eaten his tea and had left his mum's.
"He had been at home all day with his mum, and he went with his friend, and this happened."
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."
Floral tributes were also left at the scene today.
One heartfelt note read: "To my little brothers. Man I loved you both like family."
It comes after the crime commissioner for South Wales denied there had been any sort of pursuit before the fatal crash.
Alun Michael told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "My understanding is that there was a road traffic accident involving two teenagers on an off-road bike or scooter and sadly, they died.
To my little brothers. Man I loved you both like family.
Floral tribute
"That's an incident obviously that is being investigated in its own right.
"And that appears to have sparked, for reasons that aren't clear, 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.
"So obviously there's going to be investigations going on this morning to try and establish what happened.
"People will be brought to account for the violence. Obviously very frightening for local people.
"And there were a lot of calls to the police expressing concern about what was going on.
"My understanding is that those things [missiles] were thrown at the police and about a dozen officers were injured.
"None of them life-threatening, fortunately, but of course, there's a lot a lot of luck involved in that.
"Officers were mobilised to the area and there was support from neighbouring forces."
Rubbishing claims of a chase he added: "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 social media nowadays, and that events can get out of hand."
The local force said they received multiple calls from frightened residents terrified by the actions of the thugs who had taken over the streets.
South Wales Police Assistant Chief Constable Mark Travis has condemned the scenes as he said arrests have already been made.
He 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.
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“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.”
Anyone with information about the collision or the disorder is asked to contact the force quoting 2200166555.
