'I beg you all to stop': Cardiff crash victim's mum begged riot mob to move as her teen son lay dying in street

23 May 2023, 13:16 | Updated: 23 May 2023, 13:50

Kyrees Sullivan and Harvey Evans were the 'best of friends'
Kyrees Sullivan and Harvey Evans (pictured left) were the 'best of friends'. Picture: Facebook/Getty/LBC
Kieran Kelly

By Kieran Kelly

The mum of a teenage boy who was killed in a road crash in Cardiff begged a riot mob to stop wreaking havoc as her son lay dying in the street.

Two teenagers are believed to have died in the car crash, after which a riot mob set cars on fire, hurled fireworks at riot police and charged at police officers.

The victims have been named as Kyrees Sullivan and Harvey Evans, who are said to have been the best of friends.

Kyrees' mum Belinda begged the mob to stop rioting so her son could be taken to hospital.

She wrote on Facebook: "My son is still laying on the floor due to this riot I’m sat at home heart broken there are 2 families broken right now.

"I just want to see my son and I can’t because of this riot that have happened pls I beg you all to stop and let my son be moved to hospital so I can see him we need to see our sons."

Harvey Evans (L) and Kyrees Sullivan (R)
Harvey Evans (L) and Kyrees Sullivan (R). Picture: Facebook
A vandalised car and debris strewn in the street after a night of rioting
A vandalised car and debris strewn in the street after a night of rioting. Picture: LBC

Read More: Two teenagers dead in 'serious crash' before riot mob set cars alight during night of violence in Cardiff

It is not yet clear how the crash and riots are linked, but it is understood the crash took place before the riots.

"My understanding is that there was a road traffic accident involving two teenagers on an off-road bike or scooter and sadly they died," South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Alun Michael said.

"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 that you've referred to 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.

"It would appear that there were rumours, and those rumours became rife, of a police chase, which wasn't the case.

Smouldering debris in the street after riots broke out on a Cardiff estate
Smouldering debris in the street after riots broke out on a Cardiff estate. Picture: LBC

"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."

Hundreds of people brought violence and mayhem to a residential street, facing off against officers from South Wales Police.

A team of workmen clears up debris after riots in Cardiff
A team of workmen clears up debris after riots in Cardiff. Picture: LBC

Footage from the scene showed thugs launching fireworks, rocks, paving slabs and even a door at police before charging at them, with officers from the force charging back.

Officers faced what they called a "large scale disorder" after receiving reports of a crashed car on Snowden Rd, Ely around 6pm.

Rioters hurl missiles at police in disorder in Cardiff

A group of rioters hurled fireworks at police
A group of rioters hurled fireworks at police. Picture: LBC

At least two cars were set on fire as trouble flared for hours, involving scores of youths, with many covering their faces with masks.

A fire was burning and a helicopter could be heard hovering overhead as rioters threw missiles, including fireworks, at the attended officers.

Damaged car following night of violence in Cardiff
Damaged car following night of violence in Cardiff. Picture: LBC
Police were faced with 'large scale disorder' on the estate in Cardiff
Police were faced with 'large scale disorder' on the estate in Cardiff. Picture: Getty

Police said the collision "had already occurred when officers arrived".

Read more: Man, 18, arrested on suspicion of causing a public nuisance over TikTok 'prankster' clips

Listen and subscribe to Unprecedented: Inside Downing Street on Global Player

Riot police form a line near Snowden Road, Ely
Riot police form a line near Snowden Road, Ely. Picture: Getty

Scenes being livestreamed on YouTube showed young people throwing fireworks and other missiles at a line of police officers with riot shields who were blocking one end of the street.

Shortly before midnight a car was set on fire and burned fiercely, while a second vehicle was overturned and set ablaze.

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.

Police keep watch at the Ely police station
Police keep watch at the Ely police station. Picture: Getty

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, followed by police who were trying to disperse them.

The rioters continued to throw missiles and set cars alight.

John Urquhart, the general secretary of the UK Harmony Party, lives in Ely and witnessed the incident escalate from the start of the evening.

An overturned burnt-out car during rioting on the estate
An overturned burnt-out car during rioting on the estate. Picture: Getty

He said: "The key thing right at the start was they did not communicate with the crowd, there was no attempt to communicate with the crowd and they showed nothing but disdain for the community and acted like we didn't deserve to know what happened on our own doorstep.

"There was nobody going through the crowd crucially, I think the police really needed people to be out talking to the community and putting their minds at ease."

Mr Urquhart, who has lived in the area for the last few years, said the situation started to escalate at around 8pm.

"The vast majority of people who were stood in that street were stood there because they wanted to know what would happen next, there were a very small number of people actually doing any sort of violence," he said.

He said he is very "counter-violence" and was offering first aid to people during the evening.

"There was definitely a small group doing things, but the vast majority of other people were just watching and having that normal comraderie in the street that you have when something is happening in your street and you have no control over it."

He said the community in Ely is tight-knit.

"When you start to see it in context, it's emotions that have built up and bottled up and eventually, I think the police just brought too many people or were too visible."

At 8.21pm, South Wales Police tweeted: "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."

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

Jane Palmer, the owner of a burnt out Ford Focus on Highmead Road, said she and her family watched from their window as rioters set fire to her car.

Ms Palmer said: "I'm disabled so now I'm trapped without my car.

"Why are they doing this? It's just stilly now."

The family attempted to stop the fire using water from their garden hose.

A man called Connor, who also lives in Highmead Road, said: "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."

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

Rioters gradually moved down Highmead Road in Ely, Cardiff, followed by police who were trying to disperse them.

The rioters continued to throw missiles and set cars alight.

One resident of Highmead Road, who did not want to be named, told the PA news agency: "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."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Dorothy Chiles

Great-grandmother, 87, pictured for first time after deadly train station attack, as woman in her 20s arrested

President Donald Trump speaks on Wednesday night

Trump makes plans to meet Putin and end Ukraine war as he says 'the US wants its money back'

Exclusive
Katie Amess has spoken out about the need for an inquiry into her father's murder by an Islamist terrorist

Daughter of Sir David Amess, MP murdered by Islamist terrorist, ‘made to sign NDA’ on report into father’s death

Exclusive
Angela Rayner reveals she took advice from NHS trauma specialists ahead of Grenfell demolition meeting

Angela Rayner reveals she took advice from NHS trauma specialists ahead of Grenfell demolition meeting

Italian F1 Grand Prix - Previews

Nightclub bouncer behind £12m plot to reveal Formula One star Michael Schumacher's health secrets jailed

Josef Fritzl

Incest monster Josef Fritzl could walk free from prison next year - and expects 'cheering crowds' to greet him

Ofsted's Chief Inspector Sir Martyn Oliver supports an extension to term times

'Time to think about school holidays': Ofsted's Chief Inspector supports extending term times

Exclusive
Angela Rayner insisted that British support for Ukraine was 'unwavering'

Rayner insists UK support for Ukraine 'unwavering' despite Trump's plan for 'immediate' peace talks with Putin

Prince William, President of BAFTA, operates a film camera as he visits the London Screen Academy in London, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, Pool)

William tries his hand at being a cameraman on visit to London film academy

President Donald J. Trump participates in a bilateral meeting with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin during the G20 Japan Summit Friday, June 28, 2019, in Osaka, Japan.

Trump and Putin 'to meet in Saudi Arabia' and 'start negotiations immediately' to end war in Ukraine

Street scene in Peckham, London, with red bus

Bus driver, 76, found guilty of killing passenger who was run over while attempting to board vehicle

Norward Road, Lambeth, the proposed LTN.

Council staff given 'wellbeing day' after attending 'stormy' neighbourhood meeting

United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, left, shakes hands with Britain's Defense Secretary John Healey prior to a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of a NATO defense ministers meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, Feb.

Ukraine's NATO membership plans 'unrealistic' says US - as defence secretary claims US troops won't be peacekeepers

Jaysley Beck, 19, was found dead at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire

Officer accused of pinning down and trying to kiss soldier, 19, had been 'waiting for moment for them to be alone'

A public inquiry into the Nottingham attacks will begin 'within weeks'

Public inquiry into Nottingham attacks will begin 'within weeks', PM tells victims' families

Paul Allen.

Cagefighter guilty of Britain's largest cash robbery shot in neck in his kitchen in murder plot