A Middlesbrough MP has described the wave of violence engulfing the town as “terrorism”, warning that frightened residents feel “trapped in their homes” after nine deaths and 19 arrests in less than a week.
More than 200 additional officers have been sent in to support Cleveland Police following an eruption of suspected gang violence in the wake of Saturday’s head-on crash, which killed PCs Matthew Blades and Tom Clough along with five youths.
As part of inquiries into the events leading up to the A66 collision, police have arrested 17 people aged between 18 and 61 across Teesside. They were detained on suspicion of a range of offences, including alleged involvement in an organised crime group.
A further two men, aged 23 and 31, have been arrested on suspicion of murder after seven-year-old Valentina Foster and her aunt, 34-year-old Natalie McDonald, died in a house fire in Grangetown on Wednesday, around a mile from the scene of the A66 crash.
Detectives are examining whether the incidents may be connected to wider organised crime, although police have stressed that no link between the cases has yet been established.
In the early hours of Thursday, a car was also driven into a house in Steele Crescent, South Bank, only minutes from the other locations under investigation. The property was empty at the time, and officers have not confirmed whether the incident is “linked to wider organised crime”.
Several other ram-raid style attacks have also taken place in Middlesbrough, including one targeting the father of one of those killed on the A66 just hours before the fatal crash.
“People are saying that they are going to their shops and not feeling safe to do so and feeling trapped in their own homes,” Andy McDonald, the MP for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East, told Times Radio.
‘That is just unacceptable. This is terrorism and we’ve got to have an appropriate response to deal with the people who are causing such mayhem in our communities and to allow people to lead their peaceful lives.’
Mr McDonald earlier told BBC Radio 4 there appeared to be a ‘causal link with organised crime’.
It comes as a mob of youths last night torched several cars and set off fireworks at a balloon release vigil for one of the A66 crash gang.
Several cars were set ablaze by hooded youths in a field near Haswell, 15 miles from Middlesbrough, last night
The cars were parked up in different spots around the field and torched
Clips of the cars skidding around the field were captioned ‘Rest in peace Micky’ in reference to Michael Cahill, one of the A66 fatalities
Teenagers in tracksuits gathered to remember Michael Cahill, 23 – one of the five young men who died in the wrong-way crash that claimed the lives of two police officers.
At least five cars were set ablaze on Thursday night in a horse field near Haswell, County Durham, with the startled animals looking on from afar.
The site was around 15 miles from Middlesbrough.
Former Middlesbrough mayor Andy Preston said the town was ‘on its knees’ – as he warned the ongoing feuds between criminal gangs could escalate further.
Cleveland Police, one of the smallest forces in the country, has seen its resources stretched to breaking point this week.
The Government has now responded with 200 extra police officers from around the country, ‘from detectives to armed response’, being dispatched after MPs in the area appealed for help.
Last night social media footage showed dozens congregate in the middle of a field in Peterlee with bikers revving engines and car horns blaring.
Cars were first driven erratically around the field, throwing up mud and crashing through hedges, before some were parked and set alight to whoops from the crowd.
Hooded youths were setting off blue smoke flares and fireworks and released balloons spelling out ‘Michael’ into the sky. Clips of the antics posted online were captioned ‘Rest in peace Micky’.
After the mob cleared, footage showed smouldering, burnt-out car shells lying on scorched grass while locals used farm machinery to begin the clear up.
Michael’s mother had earlier called for ‘bikes, jeeps, cars and quad bikes’ to gather for her son’s send-off.
The chaotic scenes broke out at a memorial organised for Cahill, 23, who died in the A66 crash
A statement from Michael’s mother called for different types of vehicles to gather
Many of the young people gathered reached for their phones to film the cars burning
Scores of blue balloons spelling out ‘Michael’ were released into the sky
Burnt-out shells were all the remained of the vehicles, surrounded by scorched grass
She wrote on social media on Thursday morning: ‘Change of plans michales [sic] baloon release Thursday peterlee White House opposite on field come on lads bikes jeeps cars quads give him send of he deserves’.
Remnants of fireworks, smoke canisters and balloons were scattered around the field on Friday morning.
Scorch marks were visible in the field and cars that were torched have since been removed.
After the tribute to Cahill, locals reported horses being ‘absolutely terrified’ by the scenes unfolding in their field.
Violence, believed to be a fallout from the crash that killed PCs Matthew Blades, 37, and Tom Clough, 38, has spiralled across Teesside.
Alec Brown, leader of Redcar and Cleveland Council, said more than 200 extra police officers have been or will be sent from around the country to support Cleveland Police and that he would be asking the Prime Minister for more support.
He said officers were ‘working 20-hour days to ensure the ongoing safety of innocent residents’.
Anna Turley, MP for Redcar, said in a Facebook post: ‘I know how worried people are, and understandably people want to know what is being done.
‘There is a significant response under way, with additional officers and resources being brought into our area and agencies working together around the clock.’
She added: ‘People have a right to feel safe in their homes and in their communities. That is our absolute priority.’
Yesterday two further incidents saw a car crash into a wall outside a South Bank home and a 39-year-old stabbed around midday in nearby Eston.
A resident near the site of the stabbing said people in the area were ‘trying to keep our heads down’.
Referring to the postcode which covers Eston, Grangetown and South Bank, among other areas, he said: ‘TS6 has gone mad, it’s brutal.’
Valentina Foster, seven, and her aunt Natalie McDonald, 34, died in a suspicious house fire on Wednesday
A house in the South Bank area of Middlesbrough was rammed by a car in the early hours of Thursday
A house in Acklam, Middlesbrough, linked to the father of Cole Worthy, one of the young men who died in the A66 crash, was rammed hours before Saturday’s crash
Armed police on the scene of the suspected knife attack in Eston on Thursday
On Thursday afternoon, armed police swarmed a house on the Bankfield estate in Eston after a 39-year-old man was stabbed. It was reported yesterday the man is receiving treatment following the assault.
The decision was announced by Cllr Brown of Redcar and Cleveland in a social media post.
‘Over 200 extra police officers from forces around the country are here and are en route, from detectives to armed response,’ he wrote.
‘I will be sending a letter today to our Prime Minister asking for even more resources.’
‘People need to feel safe in their homes,’ Mr Brown added.
Middlesbrough has the highest crime rate in England excluding central London, and rival criminal groups have been spreading fear among residents.
Gatherings had been held earlier in the week to remember the other four men who died in the VW Passat.
Friends and relatives of Jacob Matusiak, 23, and 17-year-olds Cole Worthy and Theo Rae, congregated on a grassy area in Middlesbrough on Wednesday.
A group gathered in Middlesbrough on Wednesday in memory of three of the five young men who died
Blue smoke from flares filled the air outside the East Middlesbrough Events Centre
Messages remembering the young men spray-painted on East Middlesbrough Events Centre
Blue smoke from flares filled the air and children were among those assembled next to the East Middlesbrough Events Centre, previously known as Middlebeck Social Club.
Messages have been spray-painted on the building reading: ‘RIP The Boys’, ‘Never Be Forgotten RIP The Lads’ and the initials of those in the car with ‘Rest easy boys’.
Community group Active Tees Valley, which operates the venue, has criticised the vandalism, saying that ‘damaging buildings that are being used to support local residents ultimately impacts the same community we are all trying to look after’.
Meanwhile, an inquest into the deaths of the two officers was told on Thursday that they died from head and neck injuries.
In consecutive hearings, coroner Paul Appleton said PC Blades was identified by his wife, and PC Clough by his partner.
The provisional cause of death was said to be head and neck injuries for PC Blades, and neck injuries for PC Clough.
Mr Appleton told the hearing that ‘all occupants of both vehicles were sadly pronounced dead at the scene’.
