Cardiff riot breaks out as violent balaclava-wearing thugs torch cars and attack police with fireworks after 'serious crash'

Two teenage boys named locally as 16-year-old Kyrees Sullivan and 15-year-old Harvey Evans died in a "serious" crash in Snowden Road before the riot broke out, police have confirmed.

Vandals were seen smashing car windows and turning vehicles onto their sides before setting them on fire as tyres exploded when rubbish and mattresses were thrown on to fuel flames.

Police blocked off the road after flames from the fires reached up to 15ft high in the air.

Footage was also livestreamed on YouTube and showed gangs of youths attacking riot police with bricks, paving stones, rocks, fireworks, doors and even a toilet.

Rioters charged at police who were stood in a line at one end of the road while throwing fireworks at the officers.

Shortly before 3am, rioters moved down Highmead Road in Ely, followed by police who were trying to disperse them.

A police helicopter, riot police with shields and full protective gear, and dogs were all at the scene.

Rubbish and wheelie bins were set alight as well as cars by rioters as they continued to be moved through the streets by police.

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.”

Another resident named Connor, who also lives in Highmead Road, added: “It’s been a mad night. This is not the norm around here but people are pretty anti-police and that’s reflected on both sides, not that that’s my opinion.

“Although we’ve been afflicted by this riot, I still understand it. When people have enough, this is what happens.”

At 1.10am police said they were continuing to monitor and respond to “disorder in Ely”, and said: “A number of vehicles have been set alight. Arrests are being made. A large police presence remains in the area.”

South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Alun Michael said it was lucky police officers did not sustain more serious injuries during the rioting.

“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,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

Asked about objects and missiles being thrown at police, he said: “My understanding is that those things 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.”