Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

As it happenedended

Cardiff bike crash – latest: Family of teen killed reveal what started riot after ‘police chase’

Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, died in an electric bike crash in Ely on Monday, sparking a night of riots in Cardiff

Tara Cobham
Saturday 27 May 2023 16:19 BST
Comments
Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, died in an electric bike crash in Ely on Monday, sparking a night of riots in Cardiff

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Family members of the two boys killed in Cardiff while riding an electric bike have revealed what sparked the riot that followed the teenagers’ deaths.

Following the vigil for Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, attended by a thousand in Ely on Friday night, the younger boy’s aunt and grandmother spoke of the community’s anger at the lack of answers following the revelation of footage of “police chasing” the teenagers on Monday evening, shortly before they died.

CCTV footage of a marked South Wales Police van following the teenagers as they rode a Sur-Ron electric bike quickly spread on social media after the incident, leading to violent clashes and disorder in Ely.

Harvey’s aunt Hayley Murphy and grandmother Dawn Rees have now revealed to the BBC: “We were stood at the barrier and we were begging them, begging them, to tell us if they were alive or dead, and they wouldn’t tell us nothing – and then someone ran into the crowd and said ‘I’ve got a video of the police chasing them’, and that is what started it.

“That’s what got everyone angry, so I understand because we wasn’t getting no answers.”

Photos show hundreds of tributes left at scene of crash

Hundreds of floral tributes and messages have been left at the scene of the accident in Ely, Cardiff since Monday.

On Friday evening over 1,500 people gathered at the spot where the teenagers were killed to pay tribute to them. Many held blue balloons and wore white T-shirts adorned with pictures of Kyrees and Harvey, while others stood silently in tears. A moment of silence was held before the crowd broke out in applause.

Hundreds of floral tributes and messages have been left at the scene of the accident in Ely, Cardiff since Monday
Hundreds of floral tributes and messages have been left at the scene of the accident in Ely, Cardiff since Monday (Getty Images)
On Friday evening over 1,500 people gathered at the spot where the teenagers were killed to pay tribute to them
On Friday evening over 1,500 people gathered at the spot where the teenagers were killed to pay tribute to them (Getty Images)
Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, were killed in a crash on Monday evening
Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, were killed in a crash on Monday evening (Getty Images)
Tara Cobham27 May 2023 15:38

Check our website for updates as live coverage ends

We are ending our live coverage of the crash in Cardiff that killed the two boys and the subsequent riots, but keep checking independent.co.uk for the latest updates.

Tara Cobham27 May 2023 15:46

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in